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NEGRO POEMS, MELODIES, 

PLANTATION PIECES, 
CAMP MEETING SONGS, ETC. 

BY 

WILLIAM C. BLADES 




ART! etVSRIwfl 



BOSTON 

RICHARD G. BADGER 

THE GORHAM PRESS 



Copyright, 1921, by William C. Blades 



All Rights Reserved 






Made in the United States of America 



The Gorhara Press, Boston, U. S. A. 

JAN 21 1922 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The Old Shore Road 13 

Mammy and Me 15 

Ring that Bell 16 

What You Gwine to Do? . 16 

Send that Chariot Down 17 

On the Road to Charleston 18 

Where the Cotton Used to Grow 19 

Rabbit in the Pot 20 

The Old Steamboat 2i 

Lily Snowdrop 22 

The Minstrel Man 22 

Mistah Jones 23 

Old Jim Crow 24 

That's Why I Want to Go There 25 

Fiddlin' Joe 26 

Bury Mah Banjo by Mah Side 27 

The Old Colored Minister 28 

Way Down South in Georgia 29 

The Chariot Ford 30 

The White Angels 31 

Bullfrog Pone 32 

The Nigger and the Mule 32 

The Wild-Eyed Coon 33 

Hard Times Come Again No More 34 

Jonah and the Whale 34 

The Placard 35 

Nigger Gin 35 

The Darky 36 

That Houn' Dawg 36 

Totin' Along 36 

Oh, Lord, Not Me 37 

5 



Contents 

PAGE 

Ante-Bellum 37 

The Cake Walk 38 

Southern Lullaby 39 

Pompey's Plea 4° 

Then You'll Come Back to Dixie J\o 

Cornfields 4^ 

Befo' de Wah 42 

What Foh I Dunno 43 

Serenade 44 

Dinah 44 

Dinah Mine 45 

Mandy's Party 4^ 

Aunt Jemima 47 

Shufflin' Feet 48 

When I Get Over the River 48 

Uncle Tom 49 

Folk Song 5° 

The Poor White Man ^ ... 51 

Possum Pie 52 

The Grinning Nigger Man 52 

I'm There 53 

The Darky's Prayer 54 

Old Black Joe 55 

We'll All Go to Heaven When We Die . . . . 56 

When the Lord Say Come 58 

The Darky Drum and Fife Corps 59 

While Jordan's in the Way 60 

Canaan 60 

Push Dem Clouds Away 61 

Christmas am a Comin' 62 

The Breakdown 63 

Dem Shoes 64 

The Old Mule's Tail 64 

The Good, Good News 65 

The Song of David 66 

Something for the Blues 66 

Dixie Far Away 68 

Refrains 68 

Glory 69 

Satan and the Sheep 70 

6 



Contents 

PAGB 

Hot Corn 71 

When You Get Back to Dixie 72 

The Old Black Mule 73 

Spindles 75 

Lickin' the Goat 76 

Gracious How that Chile Done Grow .... 77 

Lamenting the Corn 77 

Mammy, I Love You . 78 

The Gentlemen of the Bones 79 

The Mississippi 80 

Angel, Sound that Trump 81 

Don't You Want to Go Along 81 

The Golden Stair 8a 

Down upon the Levee 83 

Ragtime 84 

Rastus Johnson's Idyl to His Mule 85 

Doing the Best He Can 87 

When the Coons All Come Around 87 

Glory! Hallelujah! 88 

Mandy 89 

The Nigger 89 

A Real Good Time 90 

Take That Fiddle Along 91 

Gwine Away for Christmas 92 

The Parson's Sermon 93 

The Cotton Fields of Georgia 94 

Right Away 95 

The Fiery Furnace 96 

Pickaninny Pompey 97 

Rastus Johnson 98 

The Pickaninny Band 98 

That Old Fly 99 

The Liability 100 

The Menu 100 

Balm of Gilead loi 

The Alligator lot 

The Banjo 102 

Brush Dem Tears Away 102 

When the Golden Trumpets Sound 103 

Rastus' Fate 103 

7 



Contents 

PAGE 

The Whang-doodle Band 104 

Rastus and His Banjo 105 

Massa's Gone Away 106 

Slavery Days 106 

Melon Time in Georgia 107 

The Steamboat Ride 108 

The Orders 109 

My Ruby Red Rose no 

Dixie So Dear in 

My Pretty Creole Belle 112 

Foah O'clock in the Morning 113 

If Chickens Were Crows 115 

Chickens 116 

The Eagle and the Rooster 116 

Down in Georgia 117 

Juba 119 

Gwine to the Ball 119 

Gwine to See My Gal 120 

Niggering Around 121 

The Hornet and the Bee 121 

The Two Masters 123 

Haul that Woodpile Down 124 

No Moon To-night 125 

Good Bye, Liza Jane 126 

Did You See Me 127 

The Chariot Man 128 

When I Get There That Day 129 

Keep that Chariot Rolling 130 

Old John Brown 131 

Down on the Old Plantation 132 

The Mule 133 

Living High 134 

Refrains 135 

Dem Golden Bells 135 

Sinia 136 

The Hallelujah Train 136 

Where is My Dinah? 137 

'Possum Juice 138 

Come Along, Chillun 139 

The Promis' Lan' 139 



Contents 

PAGE 

What Are You Doing Up There? 140 

Elijah, Ring that Bell 141 

Pharaoh 142 

All Right, Moses, I'll Be There 142 

Forty Acres and a Mule 143 

Caroline 144 

The Judgment Morn 145 

The Darkies' Jubilee 145 

Roll on, Jordan, Roll 146 

Dixie Darky Land 147 

When the Sun Goes Down 148 

Dinah, Come with Me 149 

My Little Black Eyed Chloe 149 

Where the Woodbine Grows 150 

Mandy's Soliloquy 151 

The Old Banjo 152 

Songs of Dixie 153 

A Plaintive Melody 153 

The Sunflower 154 

Hoe Cake Song 155 

The Weddin' Gown 156 

The Catfish Fry 157 

When Massa Blows that Horn 158 

The Roosting Roosters 159 

The Golden Crown i6o 

When the Tide Turns Round i6i 

The Hoe Down 161 

The Roustabout 162 

When the Wash am Out 163 

Diamonds ~ . . 164 

The Old Mewl 165 

Moonlight 165 

The Sun Do Move 166 

The Colored Children's Catechism 167 

When the Steamboat Comes Along 168 



NEGRO POEMS, MELODIES, 

PLANTATION PIECES, 
CAMP MEETING SONGS, ETC. 



THE OLD SHORE ROAD 

The old shore road is shady 

And the old shore road is cool, 
And often I stop by the wayside 

When driving my old black mule; 
And on my way to heaven 

When heavy is my load, 
The Lord Almighty done take me 

Along the old shore road. 

This old mule that I'm driving 

He go up many a hill, 
And long he tug on the traces 

And pull with a right good will; 
But now he's in the stable 

And empty is my load, 
For the Lord above done take me 

Along the old shore road. 



13 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



And the air is like a garden 

And the air is pure and sweet, 
And my legs are getting rested 

And my shoes don't hurt my feet; 
And I travel on delighted 

Without a whip or goad, 
For the Lord done make it easy 

Along the old shore road. 

I watch the big white breakers 

Come rolling on the shore, 
But they can't harm this nigger. 

Whose days are nearly o'er; 
Along life's lingering highway 

I am on to that abode, 
Where the Lord done say my place is 

Along the old shore road. 

I know they call this heaven 

The milk and honey land. 
Where the Lord am gwine to meet me 

And take me by the hand; 
But all I want in heaven 

Is a place to rest my load, 
And a place to drive my mule in 

Along the old shore road. 



U 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



MAMMY AND ME 

Whose face is smiling 
When her face I see, 

No one but Mammy 
Mammy and me. 

Who sees the flower 
The sky and the tree, 

No one but Mammy 
Mammy and me. 

Who sings the songs 

Of the wind and the bee, 
No one but Mammy 

Mammy and me. 

Who calls me black 
As I laugh in my glee, 

No one but Mammy 
Mammy and me. 

And who sleeps together 

Who can it be, 
But this pickaninny 

And Mammy and me. 



15 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



RING THAT BELL 

Ring that bell Elijah 

And open wide the door, 

Oh ring that bell Elijah 

And ring that bell once more. 

I want my folks to hear it 
I want my folks to know, 

There is a place to go to 

And the bell tells where to go. 

Oh ring that bell Elijah 
And open wide the door. 

Oh ring that bell Elijah 

And ring that bell once more. 



WHAT YOU GWINE TO DO 

What you gwine to do, dear friends, 

What you gwine to do. 
When the Lord his flaming angel sends 

And asks your soul of you; 
And if your soul is not prepared 

To meet the judgment too, 
What you gwine to do, dear friends, 

What you gwine to do. 
i6 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

What you gwine to do, dear friends, 

What you gwine to do, 
When all the graves give up their dead 

Before your frightened view; 
And when the Lord appears on high 

In all his anger too, 
The Lord have mercy on your soul 

For what you gwine to do. 



SEND THAT CHARIOT DOWN 

Lord my soul is waiting 
Soon the trump will sound. 

Lord don't keep me waiting 
Send that chariot down. 

Send that chariot down Lord 
Send that chariot down. 

Lord don't keep me waiting 
Send that chariot down. 

I saw a big white angel 
The angel made a sound, 

I know it brought the message 
Send that chariot down. 

And when the day is breaking 
And when the day rolls round, 

You will find me waiting 
Send that chariot down. 

17 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



ON THE ROAD TO CHARLESTON 

On the road to Charleston 

I met a darky coon, 
Driving on to Charleston 

Beneath a summer noon; 
He whistled and he shouted 

These snatches of a tune, 
Upon the road to Charleston 

Beneath the summer noon. 



I started out this morning 

To go to market town, 
To sell a load of cotton 

For my neighbor, Mr. Brown; 
The road is like an arrow 

And measured by the rule, 
It was only forty paces 

But a million for a mule. 



I might get there tomorrow 

I might get there tonight. 
The way this mule am going 

Am sure a sorry sight ; 
I'm jerking on the bridle 

And whipping like a fool. 
But what's the use of talking 

To a turtle like a mule. 
i8 



Plantation PieceSj Camp Meeting Songs 

I've got to go to market 

I've got to go to town, 
I've got to sell this cotton 

For my neighbor, Mr. Brown; 
It's just around the corner 

Beyond the little school, 
A half a dozen paces 

But a million for a mule. 



WHERE THE COTTON USED TO GROW 

Dinah my heart is weeping 

Dinah my heart is sad, 
Dinah 'twould make me happy 

Dinah 'twould make me glad; 
Once more while I'm living 

Once more there to go. 
Back to dear old Dixie 

Where the cotton used to grow. 

Dinah no more I'm weeping 

Dinah no more I'm sad, 
Dinah my heart is happy 

Dinah my heart is glad; 
For the good Lord tells me 

And the Lord must know, 
We're going back to Dixie 

Where the cotton used to grow. 



19 



Negro PoemSj Melodies 



RABBIT IN THE POT 

Yum ! Yum ! Yum ! 

What is it I got? 
Nothing but a rabbit 

And a rabbit in the pot. 

Yum ! Yum ! Yum ! 

But that fire am hot, 
And that's the way to keep it 

With a rabbit in the pot. 

Yum ! Yum ! Yum ! 

I know a savory spot, 
It is a rabbit cooking 

And a rabbit in a pot. 

Yum! Yum! Yum! 

And if I had a yacht, 
I wouldn't go a sailing 

With that rabbit in the pot. 

Yum! Yum! Yum! 

But don't it take a lot 
Of waiting, waiting, waiting 

For a rabbit in a pot. 

Yum ! Yum ! Yum ! 

What a joy I got, 
I guess I'm going crazy 

With that rabbit in the pot. 
20 



Plantation Pieces^ Camp Meeting Songs 



THE OLD STEAMBOAT 

Sambo went to market 

To sell a little pig, 
He had a dozen chickens 

And he had a balky rig; 
He got down near the river 

With his chickens and his shoat, 
Toot! Toot! goes the whistle 

Of the old steamboat. 

His mule he got excited 

And started on a run, 
And sped along the highway, 

Like a bullet from a gun ; 
Scattered were the chickens 

And scattered was the shoat, 
Toot! Toot! frightened by the whistle 

Of the old steamboat. 

And Sambo started clubbing 

That critter of a mule, 
Until he had him humbled 

And looking like a fool; 
And then he caught the chickens 

And then he caught the shoat. 
Toot! Toot! frightened by the whistle 

Of the old steamboat. 



21 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



LILY SNOWDROP 

They called her Lily Snowdrop 

Because she dressed in white, 
But Lily was a negress 

And such a monstrous sight; 
The fat was on her biceps 

The fat was on her arms, 
And fatty was her wrinkles 

And fatty was her charms. 

And talk about your blackness. 

No blackness of the night 
Could equal Lily Snowdrop 

When she was dressed in white; 
And someone seeing Lily 

Said, bless her giant soul. 
If I had two Lily Snowdrops 

I'd have a ton of coal. 

THE MINSTREL MAN 

The minstrel man has come to town 
All the gentlemen please sit down, 
Why does a chicken — and then he began 
Haw! haw! haw! the minstrel man. 

The minstrel man he wears a vest 
Just like a sunset in the west, 
Mr. Tambo — and then he began 
Haw! haw! haw! the minstrel man. 
22 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

The minstrel man has a funny face 

And a big sunflower in its place, 

And the smile is broad in the lily white ban' 

Of this haw! haw! haw! minstrel man. 

The minstrel man is on the end 

Or in the middle of the minstrel men, 

And who is happier in all the Ian' 

Than this ragtime, jazz, jazz, minstrel man. 



MISTAH JONES 

Mistah Jones went courting 

Went courting sporty too. 
He always carried a flower 

And a razor in his shoe; 
The flower am for my lady 

Said Mistah Jones so spare, 
And the razor am for any niggah 

Who happens to be there. 

Mandy was his sweetheart 

A most engaging miss, 
Who seemed all light and sunshine 

And who seemed all joy and bliss; 
But when I think of that razor 

And of that miss so fair, 
I wouldn't want to call on Mandy 

When Mistah Jones is there. 



^3 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



OLD JIM CROW 

Old Jim Crow went walking 

Went walking do\vn the street, 
He had a clumsy manner 

And he had big clumsy feet; 
But when he started dancing 

And dancing Juba too, 
You never saw such prancing 

As old Jim could do. 

He cavorted through the two-step 

He cavorted up and down, 
He scrambled through the one-step 

And tumbled round and round; 
And wherever there is dancing 

The dancing old and new, 
You never saw such dancing 

As Old Jim Crow did do. 

The bobolink and the blackbird 

They looked on in amaze. 
To see the funny jumping 

Of Jim Crow and his ways; 
And to this day in Dixie 

They say it's very true. 
There is no more such dancing 

As Old Jim Crow could do. 



24 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



THAT'S WHY I WANT TO GO THERE 

The darkies shout and the darkles sing 
The Lord he is my heavenly King, 
And when I die on an angel's wing 
That's why I want to go there. 

I want to go there, I want to go there, 
I want to go there, I want to go there, 
I want to go there, I want to go there, 
That's why I want to go there. 

I want to go there on a Sunday morn 
I want to hear Massa blow his horn, 
I want to see the blackbirds in the corn 
That's why I want to go there. 

I want to go where there is no snow 
I want to go where the daisies grow, 
I want to go where I can go 
That's why I want to go there. 

I want to hear the flipping of the angel's wing 
I want to see Jesus and my King, 
I want to shout and I want to sing 
That's why I want to go there. 

I want to go there for the judgment day 
I want to hear the darkies sing and pray, 
I want the jubilee to start right away 
That's why I want to go there. 

25 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



FIDDLIN' JOE 

Playing fiddles Sah is fine 

And I will show you how I play mine, 

At the dances where I go 

Said a darky Fiddlin' Joe. 

First you rosin up your bow 
Then you fix your fiddle so, 
Tuck your fiddle under your chin 
And that's the way you first begin. 

Scrape and scrape, and scrape the strings 
Till that blamed old fiddle sings, 
But don't forget the way you begin 
Is to tuck your fiddle under your chin. 

Back and forth you rub the bow 

Up and down you make it go, 

But the way you first begin 

Is to tuck your fiddle under your chin. 

Make that catgut squeal and howl 
Saw that fiddle near your jowl, 
But to do all this you first begin 
By tucking your fiddle under your chin. 

Up and down you let it rave 
Bend that bow just like a wave, 
But don't forget when you first begin 
To tuck your fiddle under your chin. 
26 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

Old Dan Tucker and the 'Downs 
These am the tunes that go the rounds, 
And all seem sweeter when you begin 
With that fiddle under your chin. 

And when the dance is nearly through 
I give a flourish one or two, 
But I always play when I first begin 
By tuckin' mah fiddle under mah chin. 



"BURY MAH BANJO BY MAH SIDE" 

Rastus sang and Rastus played 
All the tunes that ever were made, 
But he had one tune that was his pride 
"Bury mah banjo by my side." 

He played the dances and the fairs 
He played his banjo everywheres, 
And people laughed and people cried 
At "Bury mah banjo jjy mah side." 

At last old Rastus he got sick 

And off he went to heaven quick. 

And in the grave where his bones reside 

They buried his banjo by his side. 



27 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



THE OLD COLORED MINISTER 

Old and gray and bowed with years 
The old colored minister in the church appears, 
And he raises his eyes, and he raises his hand 
And the congregation rise, and the congregation 

stand, 
And the minister preach, and the minister pray 
World without end from day to day. 

And he tells the story of the long lost sheep 
And his hearers smile, and his hearers weep. 
And the congregation rise, and the congregation 

stand ; 
And the congregation sing with the book in the hand ; 
And the minister preach, and the minister pray 
World without end from day to day. 

And the old and young, and the young and old 

Hear from his lips those words of gold. 

And the congregation rise, and the congregation 

stand ; 
And they feel the clasp of his trembling hand ; 
And the minister preach, and the minister pray 
World without end from day to day. 

And he preaches the sermon over the dead 
And he says the words that makes them wed, 
And the congregation rise, and the congregation 

stand ; 
Doing the will of the Lord's command, 
And the minister preach, and the minister pray 
World without end from day to day. 
28 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

And he heals the wound and he dries the tear 

And he comforts the sorrow and the fear, 

And the congregation rise, and the congregation 

stand ; 
The happiest church in that happiest land ; 
And the minister preach, and the minister pray 
World without end from day to day. 



'WAY DOWN SOUTH IN GEORGIA 

Come to the land of the golden moon 
Come to the land where the darkies croon 

'Way down south in Georgia 

In Georgia — in Georgia 
There's where I was born, on a Sunday morn 

'Way down south in Georgia. 

Come to the land of the Dixie rose 

Come to the land where the cotton grows — 

'Way down south in Georgia. 

In Georgia — in Georgia 
There's where I was born, on a Sunday morn 

'Way dow^n south in Georgia. 

Come to the land where they sing and dance 
Come to the land where the maids entrance 

'Way down south in Georgia 

In Georgia — in Georgia 
There's where I was born, on a Sunday morn 

'Way down south in Georgia. 
29 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



THE CHARIOT FORD 

We came to a river 

Too wide to cross, 
And we couldn't, and we couldn't 

And we couldn't get across; 
And they sent for a chariot 

The river to ford. 
And they came right away 

With a chariot ford; 
But oh, good Lord, 

How can I afford, 
To ever get across 

In a chariot ford. 



The river am wide 

And the river am deep, 
And I want to get across 

Where I can sleep; 
And the Lord he came 

And the Lord he smiled, 
And he said, my chillun, 

The waters am mild; 
So take your place 

And hurry up aboard, 
For a good old ride 

In the chariot ford. 

30 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

So when you come to Jordan 

And you can't get across, 
Never mind chillun 

There's a way to cross; 
The Lord am good 

And the Lord am kind, 
And a way over Jordan 

He am sure to find; 
And keep right on 

In the promise of the Lord, 
And wait till you come 

To a chariot ford. 



THE WHITE ANGELS 

Mammy, am the angels always white? 
Lisped a little chile one bedtime night, 
And the Mammy answered in affright 
Hush ! my chile, and say good night. 

Mammy why am the angels always white? 
Said the little chile one bedtime night. 
And the Mammy answered in affright 
Hush ! my chile, and say good night. 

For if the angels am always white 
I'll never be an angel in your sight, 
And the Mammy answered in affright 
Hush ! my chile, and say good night. 



31 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



BULLFROG PONE 

Down by the gum tree 

Sitting on a log, 
Croaking all the evening 

Lived a big frog. 

Along came a nigger 
Who picked up a stone, 

With visions of a supper 
And a bullfrog pone. 

The frog saw the nigger 

And the frog saw the stone, 

But he wasn't quite ready 
For a bullfrog pone. 

He made a great dive 

And he made a great splash. 

And good bye nigger 
To that bullfrog hash. 

THE NIGGER AND THE MULE 

Hee! Hee! Hee! 

Haw! Haw! Haw! 
I'm laughing like a jackass 

And I'm laughing like a fool. 
For down in Alabama 

It always is the rule, 
That where you see a nigger 

You will always see a mule. 

32 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

Hee! Hee! Hee! 

Haw! Haw! Haw! 
I'm laughing like a jackass 

And laughing like a fool, 
'Tis taught in every college 

And taught in every school, 
That where you see a nigger 

You will always see a mule. 



THE WILD EYED COON 

Ah done got a razor 

Ah done want to sell. 
Ah done needs the money 

Ah doan' feel so well; 

The fo'ks all say ahm crazy 
And they take me for a loon, 

But ah wouldn't sell a razor 
To a wild eyed coon. 

Ah may be looking shabby 
But ah done know mah biz, 

Fo' I hear that Rastus saying 
He am gwine to get his; 

The fo'ks all say ahm crazy 
And they take me for a loon, 

But ah wouldn't sell a razor 
To a wild eyed coon. 

33 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



HARD TIMES COME AGAIN NO MORE 



How happy are the darkies 
As they sing this chorus o'er, 
Hard times come again no more. 
The cabin has a shutter 
And the cabin has a door; 
Hard times come again no more. 
There's a curtain in the window, 
And a carpet on the floor, 
Hard times come again no more. 
There's plenty in the cupboard 
And there's credit at the store; 
Hard times come again no more. 
And they sing aloud their praises, 
For the blessing ever more 
That hard times, hard times 
Come again no more. 



JONAH AND THE WHALE 

The ark is coming up the road. 
Said Hannah Jordan, with a load, 
And I guess I'll get aboard 
Before that river I have to ford ; 
And besides said Hannah pale 
I don't like that Jonah Whale, 
And if that ark done try to balk 
Ah can jes' get out and walk. 

34 



Plantation Pieces, Catnp Meeting Songs 



THE PLACARD 

Who wants to buy, I want to sell 
A swayback mule sound and well, 
Warranted broke and does not kick, 
Willing to work and never sick; 
And Sambo read and scratched his head 
And pondered long and then he said. 
The man that wrote that no kick rule 
Is talking bull and not a mule. 



NIGGER GIN 

Rastus to the Doctor went 

With a lot of ills and not a cent, 

And this is the way he told the physician 

How he felt in his condition ; 

Ah can't sleep and ah can't eat 

And ah can't stand upon mah feet, 

Mah tongue am hot mah feet am cool 

And ah done feel jes' like a fool; 

The doctor heard his mournful cries 

The doctor saw his bleary eyes, 

Saw his symptoms and grimaces, 

Saw the effects and the traces; 

And raising his finger in the air 

Knde him heed his warning there, 

Foh 3'ou done got, said Doctor Grin, 

A very bad case of Niggrr Gin. 

35 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



THE DARKY 

A piece of night and for his eyes 
Two clouds from out the morning skies, 
And for his mouth and for his laugh 
A water-melon cut in half ; 
Live today and lack tomorrow 
All of joy and naught of sorrow, 
Half a homily, half a joke 
There's your darky, there's your smoke. 

THAT HOUN' DAWG 

That houn' dawg, said Rastus Jones, 
Done send a chill through all mah bones, 
Ahm jes' a walking round and round 
And I always shiver when I hear that houn'. 
He bays at the moon, and he bays at the tree, 
He bays at the shadow and he bays at me, 
Ahm jes' a walking round and round 
But I got to shiver when I hear that houn'. 

TOTIN' ALONG 

Old black Joe went ambling along 

And old black Joe has a happy old song, 

The hill is long that I got to climb 

But I'll keep on climbing all the time; 

And all you got to do when the world goes wrong 

Is to keep on totin', totin' along. 

36 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

The burden is heavy that my back must bear 

But the Lord done keep me in His care, 

And the Lord is good and the Lord is kind 

And rest and shade I am sure to find; 

And all you got to do when the world goes wrong 

Is to keep on totin', totin' along. 

OH LORD NOT ME 

Who stole the woodpile and the axe? 

Who turns the turtles on their backs? 

Who had some chickens in some funny looking 

sacks ? 
Oh Lord, not me. 

Who went fishing and stepped on a toad? 
Who saw a bat fly over the road ? 
Who didn't have a rabbit's foot when the hen 

crowed ? 
Oh Lord, not me. 

ANTE-BELLUM 

Ante-Bellum I knew her well 

And Parson Jones began to tell 

The virtues of an old black Mammy 

Who had a son whose name was Sammy, 

Who had a niece whose name was Ethel 

Who went to Sunday school in Bethel; 

And so the Parson strung his lyre 

Until he proved himself a liar, 

For Ante-Bellum means befoh' 

All that trouble called the wah. 

37 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



THE CAKE WALK 

Just see them darkies walking 
Just watch the steps they take, 

For the darkies all are walking 
And walking for that cake. 

The feathers on them ladies 
Was something fine and grand, 

And every colored gentlemen 
Had a flower in his hand. 

Such strutting and such perking 
No peacock bird could make, 

Like them happy darkies 

When walking for that cake. 

What cared they for dem tight shoes? 

What if their corns did ache? 
They am just too happy 

Walking for that cake. 

And Rastus scraped the fiddle 
And Rastus called the turns, 

And the way that fiddle whistled 
He sure his money earns. 

All hands on the carpet. 

Every one go in pairs, 
Step lively round the corners 

And look out for dem chairs. 

38 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

Up and down the parlor 

I thought their necks would break, 
The way them darkies held their heads 

Walking for that cake. 



SOUTHERN LULLABY 

There is a Southern lullaby 

And I'm going to sing the tune, 

Big eye — bright eye 
Shining like the moon. 

I heard it on the Swanee 

In the merry month of June, 

Big eye — bright eye 
Shining like the moon. 

And I was watching Hannah 
As she ladeled with a spoon, 

Big eye — bright eye 
Shining like the moon. 

And she was softly cooing 
The music of the croon, 

Big eye — bright eye 
Shining like the moon. 

For down in Alabama 
'Tis the asset of the coon, 

Big eye — bright eye 
Shining like the moon. 
39 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



POMPEYS' PLEA 

Tide me over the winter, 

Tide me over the snow, 
Send me back to Georgia 

Where the winds don't blow; 
I don't like the winter, 

I don't like the cold. 
For I'm only a poor old nigger 

Who's growing very old. 

The crow he got his feathers 

In the wing and tail, 
But scanty are my garments 

And my shoes are frail; 
So send me back to Georgia 

Where the winds don't blow, 
For I'm only a poor old nigger 

Who has nowheres to go. 

THEN YOU'LL COME BACK TO DIXIE 

You said good bye to Dixie, 

You bade her your adieu. 
You left the blackbirds singing 

And you left the skylarks too; 
But when the north winds gather 

And tumble round their snows. 
Then you'll come back to Dixie 

Where the sweet magnolia grows. 

40 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

The snowy fields of cotton 

And the sunny fields of corn, 
No longer could enchant you 

To the place where you was born; 
But when your heart grows weary 

And you sigh to see the rose, 
Then you'll come back to Dixie 

Where the Swanee river flows. 



CORNFIELDS 

The cornfields, the cornfields 

Waving in the air. 
Waving in the sunshine 

And waving green and fair; 
How I love the cornfields 

How I love to go 
Back to Louisiana, 

Where the cornfields grow. 

The comfieUs, the cornfields 

I never can forget, 
And often in my fancy 

I am toiling in them yet; 
And when my days are over 

I want my soul to go 
Back to Louisiana, 

Where the cornfields grow. 



41 



Nefffo PoemSj Melodies 



BEFO' DE WAH 

I was bo'n Sah in a cabin, 

A cabin very small, 
It didn't have a chimney 

And it didn't have a hall; 
But it had a big sunflower 

Growing round the door. 
And this was long ago, Sah, 

Long befo' de wah. 



Long befo' the wah, Sah, 
Long befo' de wah. 
The darkies they were singing, 
The banjos they were ringing, 
Down in old Virginia 
Long befo' de wah. 



I was bo'n down in the Souf, Sah, 

Upon a little farm. 
The days were bright and sunny 

And the nights were bright and warm ; 
The rabbit and the turtle 

Would come around the door. 
And this was long ago, Sah, 

Long befo' de wah. 
42 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

Long befo' de wah, Sah, 
Long befo' de wah, 
Down in old Virginny 
I was a pickaninny, 
Long befo' de wah, Sah, 
Long befo' de wah. 



WHAT FOH I DUNNO 

I done get arrested 

What foh, I dunno. 
I wasn't near that hen house 

When that rooster crow; 
I didn't see that rooster 

When that rooster crow, 
But I done get arrested 

What foh, I dunno. 

I done get arrested 

What foh, I dunno. 
I wasn't near that wood pile 

When dem breezes blow; 
I didn't see that wood pile 

When dem breezes blow, 
I done get arrested 

But what foh, I dunno. 



43 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



SERENADE 

Smiling moon, rising soon 
Over the hills, over the rills 

And I'm thinking of my Dinah, 
And the smiling silvery moon. 

Smiling moon, silvery moon 
All the flowers, scent the bowers 

And I'm thinking of my Dinah, 
And the smiling silvery moon. 

Smiling moon, silvery moon 

Twitter the birds, low the herds 

And I'm thinking of my Dinah, 
And the smiling silvery moon. 

Smiling moon, silvery moon 
The nights ajar, I see the star 

And I long to be with Dinah, 
And the smiling silvery moon. 

DINAH 

Dinah! Dinah! I see Dinah there. 
Dinah ! Dinah ! Dinah I declare 
All the boys are jealous 

See them pull their hair. 
When my Dinah's coming 

And I see Dinah there. 

44 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

Dinah ! Dinah ! just see Dinah's hair. 
Dinah ! Dinah ! Dinah is so fair, 
All the boys are jealous 

They could almost swear, 
When my Dinah's coming 

And I see Dinah there. 



DINAH MINE 

Dinah! Dinah is my gal. 
You can have your Sue or Sal, 
But the one that pleases me 
Is my Dinah that you see. 

Dinah! Dinah! Dinah mine. 
Her eyes sparkle, her eyes shine, 
And where a gal so choice and fine 
Like my Dinah, Dinah, mine. 

She is plump and she is fair 
With coal black eyes and coal black hair, 
And on her hand she is going to wear 
A big gold ring that I'll put there. 

Dinah! Dinah! Dinah mine. 
Her eyes sparkle, her eyes shine. 
And where a gal so choice and fine 
Like my Dinah, Dinah mine. 



45 



Negro PoemSj Melodies 



MANDY'S PARTY 

Mandy gave a party 

The fame of which was wide, 
And Mandy did the cooking 

For that was Mandy's pride; 
There were chickens, there were possums, 

There was hoe cake and a boar, 
And Mandy says I'm coming 

When I lock that kitchen door. 



The smell of all that kitchen 

Pervaded every room, 
Just like a sweet potato 

In sweet potato bloom ; 
The dancers all were merry, 

The revelry galore, 
And Mandy says I'm coming 

When I lock that kitchen door. 



And Mandy in the kitchen 

Was busy as the bees, 
Baking crispy biscuits 

And shelling juicy peas; 
The call went round for Mandy 

And went round more and more 
But Mandy says I'm coming 

When I lock this kitchen door. 

46 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

At last the supper's ready, 

At last the work is done, 
And raging fast and furious 

Went on the nigger fun ; 
The coons began to grumble 

And the coons began to jaw, 
But Mandy says I'm coming 

When I lock this kitchen door. 

For Mandy knew them niggers 

And Mandy knew them coons, 
She knew them possums baking 

Would start them nigger croons; 
So* let them niggers holler. 

Said Mandy with a roar. 
And tell them coons I'm coming 

When I lock this kitchen door. 



AUNT JEMIMA 

Aunt Jemima laughed so loud 
She looked just like a thunder cloud, 
Her mouth would open like a door 
And then there came an awful roar ; 
It used to all the babies wake, 
It used to all the ceiling shake. 
And I'm laughing, laughing yet 
At Aunt Jemima's cheeks so wet. 



47 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



SHUFFLIN' FEET 

There's music in the banjo, 

There's music soft and sweet, 
When playing in the evening 

To rest the weary feet; 
And when the banjo's playing 

And playing soft and sweet, 
I can't keep from shufflin' 

From shufflin' these old feet. 

The rheum am in my fingers 

And the rheum am in my feet, 
And I can only hobble 

When I go along the street ; 
And when the harps of Zion 

Send out their tones so sweet, 
I can't keep from shufflin' 

From shufflin' these old feet. 

WHEN I GET OVER THE RIVER 

When I get over the river, 

That river deep and wide, 
How great will be my pleasure. 

How great will be my pride ; 
The angels will be standing 

For every one to see, 
And when I get over the river 

Moses will meet me. 

48 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

When I get over the river 

And reach old Jordan's shore, 
I want to see my loved ones 

That all have gone before; 
And there amid that gathering 

For every one to see 
Moses w'xW be standing 

And waiting there for me. 



UNCLE TOM 

Uncle Tom is singing 

And singing soft and low, 
His hair is almost silvered 

And his steps are very slow ; 
And still he keeps on singing 

As he treads among the gorse, 
One more ribber, one more ribber 

One more ribber to cross. 

The day is bright and cheerful 

The sky shows not a cloud, 
And Uncle Tom keeps singing 

In the vineyard with the crowd; 
And still he keeps on singing 

With all his vocal force, 
One more ribber, one more ribber 

One more ribber to cross. 



49 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



FOLK SONG 

White folks, white folks 

Want to shine, 
Drink a lot of whiskey, 

Drink a lot of wine ; 
And white folks, white folks 

Don't take it ill, 
Ef when you talk — 

I done keep still. 



White folks, white folks 

You am proud. 
You done talk big 

And you done talk loud ; 
And white folks, white folks 

Don't take it ill, 
Ef when you talk — 

I done keep still. 



White folks, white folks 

Make a lot of noise. 
Talk about their pleasures. 

Talk about their joys; 
And white folks, white folks 

Don't take it ill, 
Ef when you talk — 

I done keep still. 

50 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

White folks, white folks 

Where am your brains, 
Doing all these things 

Fo' yo' pains; 
And white folks, white folks 

Don't take it ill, 
Ef when you talk — 

I done keep still. 



THE POOR WHITE MAN 

The poor white man. 

The poor white man, 
Living up north 

In a cold white land; 
Never saw a banjo 

Or heard a nigger band, 
And I'd rather be a nigger 

Than a po' white man. 

The poor white man, 

The poor white man, 
Never saw a possum 

Or a possum in a pan. 
Never had a chicken 

Or a razor in his hand, 
And I'd rather be a nigger 

Than a po' white man. 



51 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



POSSUM PIE 

Carve that possum, Hannah 

Carve that possum soon, 
For the pan am ready 

And here am the spoon; 
Carve him in de quarters, 

Carve him in de thigh, 
And carve that possum, Hannah 

Foh a possum pie. 

Carve that possum, Hannah 

Carve the fat and lean, 
For that meat am the juiciest 

That I have ever seen; 
Carve him in de quarters. 

Carve him in de thigh, 
And carve that possum, Hannah 

Foh a possum pie. 



THE GRINNING NIGGER MAN 

When you make a hoe cake 

You w^ant to make it quick. 
Stir it in the basin 

And stir it with a stick; 
Bake it in the oven. 

Bake it in a pan. 
And then just watch the antics 

Of that grinning nigger man. 

52 



Plantation Pieces j Camp Meeting Sonffs 

When you eat a hoe cake 

You want to eat it hot, 
Take it from the oven 

And eat it on the spot; 
Hold it in the middle, 

Hold it in your han' 
And then just watch the antics 

Of that grinning nigger man. 



I'M THERE 

Every different nigger 

Has a different taste, 
You can see it in their manner, 

You can see it in their face; 
Some might want a turtle. 

Some might want a bear. 
But when you say rabbit 

I'm there. 

Possum is too juicy, 

Chicken is too dry, 
Watermelon lovely 

When they take the eye; 
Some might want a turkey, 

Some might want a hare, 
But when you say rabbit 

I'm there. 



53 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



THE DARKY'S PRAYER 

Oh, Massa of all Massas 

Where the ribber Jordan flows, 
Where the darkies all am welcome 

In their poor and ragged clothes; 
Dis darky am a pleading, 

His lips done move in prayer, 
And help a poor old nigger 

Till he done get there. 

I ask no more of Massa 

Than Massa give to me, 
He made my labor plenty 

And he made my labor free; 
The vi^ay am long and weary, 

The load am hard to bear, 
And help a poor old nigger 

Till he done get there. 

For all of Massa's kindness 

And Massa's ways to men, 
My heart am full of glory 

And my lips will say amen ; 
But Jordan and the shadows 

Are sometimes hard to bear. 
And help a poor old nigger 

Till he done get there. 

54 



Plantation PieceSj Camp Meeting Songs 



OLD BLACK JOE 

Old Black Joe went hobbling, 
Went hobbling down the street, 

Rags upon his shoulders 
And rags upon his feet. 

He told a simple story 

That I would have you know, 
The gospel of the toiler 

And the gospel of the hoe. 

Bo'n down in the Souf, Sah, 

Bo'n befo' de wah, 
I never knew my Mother 

Nor what my life was for. 

They talk about the bible 
And where I've got to go, 

But I couldn't learn the bible 
When I had to learn the hoe. 

And when I get to heaven 
Where any weeds done grow, 

I guess the Lord will take me 
If I show the Lord my hoe. 

And as a finite judgment 
On creeds and things below, 

I want no better argument 
Than old Black Joe. 

55 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



WE'LL ALL GO TO HEAVEN WHEN 
WE DIE 

Chillun don't worry, 

Chillun don't fret, 
When the sky am dark 

And the ground am wet; 
The Lord am good 

And we've only got to try 
And we'll all go to heaven 

When we die. 

We'll all go to heaven 

When we die, 
We'll all go to heaven 

When we die; 
The Lord am good 

And we've only got to try, 
And we'll all go to heaven 

When we die. 

Look to the east 

And look to the west, 
And look to the place 

That you think best; 
For somewhere in the heaven 

There's a rainbow in the sky, 
And we'll all go to heaven 

When we die. 

56 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

We'll all go to heaven 

When we die, 
We'll all go to heaven 

When we die; 
For somewhere in the heaven 

There's a rainbow in the sky, 
And we'll all go to heaven 

When we die. 



The night may come 

And the day be late, 
And all you got to do 

Is to trust and wait ; 
So chillun don't weep 

And chillun don't sigh, 
For we'll all go to heaven 

When we die. 



We'll all go to heaven 

When we die, 
We'll all go to heaven 

When we die; 
So chillun don't weep 

And chillun don't sigh. 
For we'll all go to heaven 

When we die. 



57 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



WHEN THJE LORD SAY COME 

Glory, Hallelujah! 

To the blood of the lamb, 
I've got a new song 

And the song is a psalm ; 
Get out of the way, 

Get off the track. 
Get off old devil — 

Get off my back; 
The Lord am a comin' 

For I hear the big drum 
And I'm gwine up to heaven 

When the Lord say come. 

Glory, Hallelujah! 

To the blood of the lamb, 
Glory, Hallelujah! 

What a saint I am; 
That old devil — 

He gave me a frown. 
But I turned to that devil 

And I knocked him down; 
I'm gwine to Canaan 

And Canaan gwine to hum, 
When I see the Lord comin' 

And the Lord say come. 



58 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Aleeting Songs 



THE DARKY DRUM AND FIFE CORPS 

The darky drum and fife corps 

Is marching on parade, 
The avenue is crowded 

And the favorite tune is played ; 
And the pride of all that company 

Was not the major tall — 
But it was the big bass drummer 

And his little sheepskin ball. 

Boom, boom, boom ! 

Boom, boom, boom! 
Bumpety, bumpety. 

Boom, boom, boom ; 
See those elbows flying : 

Dispersing every gloom, 
Bumpety, bumpety, 

Boom, boom, boom. 

The darky drum and fife corps 

Is marching on parade, 
The windows all are opened 

By the smiling man and maid; 
And the pride of all that company 

Was not the major tall — 
But it was the big bass drummer 

And his little sheepskin ball. 



59 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



WHILE JORDAN'S IN THE WAY 

Roll on, thou fiery pillar 

Roll on, roll on your way, 
Roll on in the night time 

And roll on in the day ; 
The Lord am all around us. 

It cannot come this way, 
Oh Glory Hallelujah! 

While Jordan's in the way. 

Roll on, thou fiery pillar 

Roll on, roll on your way. 
It cannot touch the righteous 

Who to the Lord will pray; 
It cannot touch the holy, 

It cannot come this way. 
Oh Glory Hallelujah! 

While Jordan's in the way. 



CANAAN 

Canaan thou art lovely, 

Canaan of my dreams, 
Thy mountains and thy valleys. 

Thy woodlands and thy streams; 
Canaan's over the river, 

Canaan's very near; 
I can't go to Canaan 

But the Lord sends Canaan here. 
60 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



Cooling are thy waters, 

Thy pastures rich abound, 
Thy flocks and fleece are legion 

And always to be found; 
Canaan's over the river, 

Canaan's very near; 
I can't go to Canaan 

But the Lord sends Canaan here. 



PUSH DEM CLOUDS AWAY 

Elijah I is coming, 

I'se coming in the morn, 
Fse coming in a hurry 

And I'se coming to the horn; 
So get the chariot ready, 

I'se coming there to stay. 
And when you see me comin' 

Oh push dem clouds away. 

The Jordan am a rollin' 

And smoky am the plain, 
And I'se afraid of lightnin' 

And I'se afraid of rain; 
So when you see me comin' 

I'se coming there to stay, 
So have that chariot ready 

And push dem clouds away. 



6i 



Neffro Poems, Melodies 



CHRISTMAS AM A COMIN' 

All the day long — 

I worry and fret, 
Something goes wrong 

That I cannot forget 
But go away raincloud, 

Go away fly — 
Christmas am a comin' 

And I ain't going to cry. 

All the day long — 

I worry and fret, 
Something gwine to happen 

Or I get in debt. 
But go away trouble 

Go away sigh — 
Christmas am a comin' 

And I ain't going to cry. 

Christmas am a comin', 

Comin' on the way, 
Christmas am a comin' 

And tomorrow am the day. 
There's a possum in the cellar 

And a porker in the sty — 
Christmas am a comin' 

And I ain't going to cry. 

62 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



THE BREAK DOWN 

My old wagon, chillun, 
Isn't verj' sound, 
It been a good old wagon 
But it done broke down. 

The axle's out of order 
And the wheels won't go round, 
It been a good old wagon 
But it done broke down. 

It trundled in the cotton 
And it trundled into town, 
It been a good old wagon 
But it done broke down. 

And now I have to sell it 
To my neighbor, Mr. Brown, 
It been a good old wagon 
But it done broke down. 

And I hope a better master 
My poor old wagon's found, 
For it been a good old wagon 
Before it done broke down. 



63 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



DEM SHOES 

Look here nigger at my feet, 
Ain't them lovely and ain't them sweet? 
Ah jes' bought 'em, they're only two's 
And ah gave a dollar for dem shoes. 
Look here nigger what you see, 
All dem folks done look at me. 
Glory! Glory! I need the blues 
For I'se too happy in dem shoes. 



THE OLD MULE'S TAIL 

That old mule's tail 

Am a swinging to and fro, 
Swinging like a pendulum 

And swinging high and low. 
And I thought it was a windstorm 

And I thought it was a gale 
When riding with my Dinah 

And that old mule's tail. 

That old mule's tail 

Am a swinging to and fro, 
Swinging when I'm coming 

And swinging when I go. 
And I thought he was a threshing 

And I thought it was a flail 
When riding with my Dinah 

And that old mule's tail. 

64 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



THE GOOD, GOOD NEWS 

Go away hunger — 

Knockin' on the door, 
Go away cold wind 

Come around no more. 
Tell all your folks 

The good good news — 
Moses am a comin' 

And we'll all have shoes. 



Barefoot in the summer — 

Barefoot in the cold. 
Barefoot when you're married 

And barefoot when you're old. 
But tell all the folks 

The good good news — 
Moses am a comin' 

And we'll all have shoes. 



65 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



THE SONG OF DAVID 

David was a great big King — 
Sing a song of David, 

His crow^n was gold, and so was his ring- 
Sing a song of David. 

He took a stone and he took a sling — 
Sing a song of David, 

And a great big giant down he bring — 
Sing a song of David; 

Oh glory to the heavenly King 
Singing the song of David. 



SOMETHING FOR THE BLUES 

I met a yaller nigger 

And he was looking very sad, 
And he told me of his sorrow 

And the feelings that he had; 
He wasn't lacking money 

And he wasn't lacking news, 
But still he wanted something 

That was something for the blue§, 
66 



I 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

Something for the blues, 

Something for the blues, 
He was wanting something, 

Something for the blues; 
It might have been a possum 

Or it might have been new shoes, 
But he was wanting something 

That was something for the blues. 

Just then there started playing 

A minstrel nigger band, 
And it was playing Dixie 

Way down in Dixieland ; 
And that nigger very happy 

Began to shout and muse, 
The band is playing something 

That is something for the blues. 

Something for the blues, 

Something for the blues. 
He was wanting something, 

Something for the blues; 
It might have been a possum 

Or it might have been new shoes, 
But he was wanting something 

That was something for the blues. 



67 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



DIXIE FAR AWAY 

I hear the banjos playing 

And I hear the banjos ring, 
I hear the darkies dancing 

And I hear the darkies sing; 
And my heart is ever longing 

For that ne'er forgotten day, 
When I was down in Dixie 

In Dixie far away. 

The essence of Ole Virginny 

And the fancy buck and wing, 
The banjos still are playing 

While the darkies dance and sing; 
My steps are slow and feeble 

And my hair is turning gray, 
But my heart is ever longing 

For the Dixie far away. 



REFRAINS 

I want to be an angel 
Dwelling in the sky, 

I want to be an angel, 
An angel when I die. 
68 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

Daniel and the lion 

In the lion's den, 
I want to be like Daniel 

In the lion's den. 

I want to be Elijah 

And have a saint's reward, 
I want to be Elijah 

Elijah of the Lord. 



GLORY 

I met old Satan walking 

And Satan wanted to know, 
All about my business 

And where I was going to go; 
And I told old Satan smiling 

When he wanted to know my name, 
Oh, I told him, Hallelujah! 

That Glory was my name. 

And now when I go walking 

Old Satan don't come near, 
He knows I am converted 

And that my skirts are clear; 
And when old Satan smiling 

Wants to know your name, 
Oh tell him, Hallelujah! 

That Glory is your name. 



69 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



SATAN AND THE SHEEP 

The Lord he is our Shepherd 
And we're the Lord's black sheep, 
Cut along old Satan 
Cut along bo-peep. 

A wolf got in among us 
When we were fast asleep, 
Cut along old Satan 
Cut along bo-peep. 

But the Lord he sent to guard us 
An angel in our sleep, 
Cut along old Satan 
Cut along bo-peep. 

And now we praise the Shepherd 
That we are still his sheep, 
Cut along old Satan 
Cut along bo-peep. 



70 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



HOT CORN 

Hot corn! hot corn! 

Hot corn, good and hot, 
Hot corn on the fire 

And hot corn in the pot; 
Come and get your hot corn 

Come and get it, and 
You won't begrudge the nickel 

To the hot corn man. 



Hot corn ! hot corn ! 

Hot corn, good and hot, 
Hot corn on the fire 

And boih'ng in the pot; 
Just you try that hot corn — 

Just you try it, and 
You won't begrudge the nickel 

To the hot corn man. 



Hot corn! hot corn! 

Hot corn, good and hot, 
Hot corn on the fire 

And steaming in the pot; 
There's the salt and pepper — 

Eat it where you stand, 
And you won't begrudge the nickel 

To the hot corn man. 

71 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



Hot corn! hot corn! 

Hot corn from the south, 
Growing in the garden 

And melting in the mouth. 
See me shuck that hot corn — 

See me shuck it, and 
You won't begrudge the nickel 

To the hot corn man. 



WHEN YOU GET BACK TO DIXIE 

I'm going back to Dixie, 

My heart is so forlorn, 
I'm going back to Dixie, 

To Dixie in the morn; 
And when you get back to Dixie, 

To Dixie fond and true, 
Tell all my friends in Dixie 

That I am coming too. 

I'm going back to Dixie, 

To Dixie and the corn, 
I'm going back to Dixie, 

For I was Dixie born; 
And when you get back to Dixie 

And Dixie's skies so blue. 
Tell all my friends in Dixie 

That I am coming too. 



u 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



THE OLD BLACK MULE 

Whoa dar, Snowball, 

You old black fool, 
Said old Tom the driver 

To his old black mule. 

Your harness am easy 
And your load am light, 

So quit your kicking 
And all that spite. 

I done got my troubles 
With dem dar wheels. 

Without keeping out of 
The reach of yo' heels. 

And den such manners 

I nebber did see, 
Your feet am a showing 

Their corns to me. 

You ain't an angel 

And you can't fly. 
So quit your kicking 

Dem heels so high. 

You am so homely 

And so forlorn, 
A pity poor Snowball 

You ebber was born. 
73 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



I jes' done gib you 

All yo' oats, 
And you get frighten' 

At dem steamboats. 

But that am the market 

Whar this cotton am gwine, 
And say, Mr. Snowball, 

Whar you gvvine? 

And whar am the money 
For to pay the rents? 

And say, Mr. Snowball, 
Whar am yo' sense? 

Ah done declare, 

Mah gooodness grace, 

If dat old Snowball 
Done bus' a trace. 



And jes' for dat 

An' breakin' dem hames, 
I done call you 

All dem names. 



See dat Snowball, 
See dat mule. 

Whoa dar. Snowball, 
You big ole fool. 

74 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

You'll get a good supper 
And j^ou'll get a good bed, 

So quit that fooling 

Or I'll break your head. 

And the mule thinking wisely 

Of Tom and his quip, 
Went off sedately 

To the touch of his whip. 

And sitting by the wayside 
Of the thicket and the pool, 

I heard Tom lecture 
His Old Black Mule. 



SPINDLES 

Dat ole Spindles was a mule, 
A graduate of every mule school. 
Golly! golly! how dat feels — 
Look out Spindles fo' dem heels. 

He kick at the fly, an' he kick at the moon. 
He kick too late, an' he kick too soon — 
And golly! golly! how dat feels — 
'Ware ole Spindles, 'ware dem heels. 

Ef yo' want to kick, an' kick so high — 
Just push dem clouds out from de sky 
But golly! golly! how it feels — 
To get in touch wif Spindles' heels. 

75 



Negro Poe?ns, Melodies 



LICKIN' THE GOAT 

I saw a big nigger 

Butting a mule, 
He butted him hot 

And he butted him cool; 
And I heard him say 

As he took off his coat, 
"You might lick a nigger 

But you can't lick a goat." 

He butted him black 

And he butted him blue, 
And he almost butted 

That mule in two; 
And I heard him say 

As he put on his coat, 
"You might lick a nigger 

But you can't lick a goat." 

The mule he stand 

And the mule he feel 
Jes' like a prisoner 

When he steal; 
And he ought to know better 

When he leave his cote. 
Not to go fooling 

With a Billy Goat. 



76 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

GRACIOUS HOW THAT CHILE 
DONE GROW 

Gracious! how that chile done grow, 
Said a snowball white as snow, 
To a sunflower all aglow — 
Gracious how that chile done grow. 
Once it was so wee and small 

Now it is so big and tall, 

I am like a mite below — 

Gracious ! how that chile done grow. 

LAMENTING THE CORN 

Rastus limped along the street, 
Something the matter with his feet, 
He wheezed, he shuffled and he grunted 
Just like a boar by hunters hunted ; 
And to a friend who asked the reason 
Of such distress in such a season, 
Rastus all his pity scorns 
And simply tells about his corns; 
My corns am big, my corns am hot 
And corns am all mah feet has got, 
And if these corns doan' stop their achin' 
Ah'U surely think mah feet am bakin'; 
And as I heard his lamentations 
I thought of cornfields and plantations. 
For Rastus had a pair of feet 
Not often seen upon the street; 
And if his corns hurt to their size 
I don't wonder at his cries. 
77 



Negro PoemSj Melodies 



MAMMY I LOVE YOU 

Mammy I love you, 
With your red bandanna, 
And Chloe or Hannah, 
Mammy I love you. 

Mammy I love you 
With your face so vv^rinkled, 
And your rings that tinkled, 
Mammy I love you. 

Mammy I love you, 
Jemina or Dinah, 
My heart will shrine her. 
Mammy I love you. 

Mammy I love you. 
The Blacker the better, 
With your iron fetter, 
Mammy I love you. 

Mammy I love you, 
With your kinky hair, 
And your feet so bare, 
Mammy I love you. 



78 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



THE GENTLEMEN OF THE BONES 

Be seated merry gentlemen, 

The minstrel show is on, 
The coons are in regalia 

And their dancing shoes they don ; 
And then you hear announcing 

In the most alluring tones, 
Mr. Sam is tambo 

And Mr. Tarn is bones. 



The sunflowers are in blossom, 

The sunflowers are in bloom. 
And sweet the balmy incense 

That floats around the room; 
They dance just like the crickets 

Would dance upon the stones. 
But there's nothing like the playing 

Of the gem'men with the bones. 



They do the jig and tw^o-step, 

They do the fancy reel, 
They're dancing with the toe-step 

And dancing with the heel; 
Up and down they're rolling, 

You can almost hear the groans. 
And see the eyelids quivering 

Of the gem'men with the bones. 

79 



Negro PoemSj Melodies 



They never stop for succor, 

They never pause for rest, 
The show devolves upon them 

And they're giving up their best; 
The tambos tinkle merrily 

And sweet the banjo's tones, 
But there's nothing like the playing 

Of the gem 'men of the bones. 



THE MISSISSIPPI 

Roll on, Mississippi — 

Roll on, wide and deep, 
I see the shadows coming 

And I see the shadows creep; 
There are windings there are turnings, 

There's the shallow and the ford. 
Rush by, river, rush by — 

Rush by to the Lord. 

Roll on, Mississippi — 

Roll on, between your banks. 
There are cabins in your forests 

And cornfields on your flanks ; 
The darkies' work is over, 

At rest the hoe and gourd. 
Rush by, river, rush by — 

Rush by to the Lord. 



80 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



ANGEL SOUND THAT TRUMP 

Angel! sound that trump, 

That great good day proclaim, 

When I shall stand before the Lord 
And hear his blessed name. 

Angel! sound that trump, 
And sound it loud and clear, 

Which tells the judgment day is come 
And Christ the Lord is here. 

And angel sound that trump! 

For I want to hear the sound, 
Which tells the Lord is near at hand 

And Moses done come round. 



DON'T YOU WANT TO GO ALONG 

A mighty tide is rising 

And it's rising very fast. 
And the ark is ready waiting 

And it's waiting to the last; 
It's going down the river, 

Don't you want to go along? 
And there's room for every sinner 

If you'll only go along. 
8i 



Neffro Poems, Melodies 



The tide is on the river 

And the tide is on the shore, 
And the ark is rocking, rocking 

Like it never did before; 
It's going down the river. 

Don't you want to go along? 
And there's room for every sinner 

If you'll only go along. 



THE GOLDEN STAIR 

When I go up that golden stair 
Them golden slippers I am gwine to wear. 
And all my friends will be waiting there 
When I go up that golden stair. 

That golden stair, that golden stair, 
When I go up that golden stair. 
Them golden slippers I am gwmt to wear 
When I go up that golden stair. 

Moses will be waiting there 

And Canaan show its face so fair. 

And them golden slippers I am gwine to wear 

When I go up that golden stair. 

That golden stair, that golden stair, 
When I go up that golden stair, 
Them golden slippers I am gwine to wear 
When I go up that golden stair. 
82 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



DOWN UPON THE LEVEE 

Down upon the levee 
The moon is all aglow, 

Down upon the levee 
Where the coons all go. 

The river seems to slumber 
So peaceful is its flow, 

Down upon the levee 
Where the coons all go. 

There goes a dusky maiden 
With her banjo and her beau, 

Down upon the levee 
Where the coons all go. 

There is music, there is dancing 
With the fiddle and the bow, 

Down upon the levee 
Where the coons all go. 

And if I was in Dixie 

The first place I would go, 

Would be down upon the levee 
Where the coons all go. 



83 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



RAGTIME 

Ragtime, ragtime, 

That am a happy time, 
Down around the levee 

In the evening time; 
The banjos am a playing 

And the feet begin to chime, 
Down around the levee 

In the evening time. 

Ragtime, ragtime. 

That am a happy time, 
Down around the levee 

In the evening time; 
The fiddles am a playing 

And the song begins to chime, 
Down around the levee 

In the evening time. 

Ragtime, ragtime, 

That am a happy time, 
Down around the levee 

In the evening time ; 
The boys are bright and jolly 

And the girls are just sublime, 
Down around the levee 

In the evening time. 

84 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



RASTUS JOHNSON'S IDYL TO HIS MULE 

Git ap, git ap, 

You lazy old mule, 
You never went to college 

And you never went to school; 
You haven't any manners 

And you're nothing but a fool, 
Git ap, git ap. 

You lazy old mule. 



Git ap, git ap, 

You lazy old mule, 
I could hit you with a hammer 

And hit you with a stool; 
You never keep a promise 

And you never keep a rule. 
Git ap, git ap. 

You scalawag mule. 



Git ap, git ap, 

You lazy old mule, 
I done a lot of swearing 

Since I had that mule; 
You're nothing but a nuisance 

And you're nothing but a fool, 
Git ap, git ap. 

You lazy old mule. 

85 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



Git ap, git ap, 

You scandalous old mule, 
I'll never get to heaven 

If I drive that mule; 
You're nothing but a nigger 

And you're nothing but a fool, 
And Rastus Johnson ended 

His idyl to his mule. 



DOING THE BEST HE CAN 

The mule he got a very big load 

And he go up the hill, 
And he pull, and pull, and pull, and pull 

But that wagon done keep still; 
The driver start to get his whip, 

The mule he saw his hand, 
And he say to that driver, hold that whip 

Foh ahm doing the best ah can. 

You might help lighten up mah load 

By walking up this hill. 
You might done let me rest a bit 

When I done do your will. 
The flies done bite me mos' to death, 

Mah shoes burn in the sand. 
And when you start to use that whip 

Ahm doing the best ah can. 



86 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



WHEN THE COONS ALL COME AROUND 

Down in old Virginia 

My father had a farm, 
The nights were long and lovely 

And the days were bright and warm; 
And of all the grinning faces 

That ever made a sound, 
You ought to hear the laughing 

When the coons all came around. 



The morning had its labor, 

The cotton fields their share, 
And evening had its pleasure 

When we were gathered there; 
And of all the fancy jumping 

That ever stirred the ground, 
You ought to see the dancing 

When the coons all came around. 

And dulcet was the music 

And dulcet were the tones, 
And dulcet was the banjo 

And dulcet were the bones; 
And of all the happy hours 

That ever did abound. 
That happiest were the happiest 

When the coons all came around. 



87 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



GLORY! HALLELUJAH! 

When I die I want to go 

With all the darkies that I know, 

Glory! Hallelujah! 

Moses come and take my hand 
Lead me to that better land, 
Glory! Hallelujah! 

Over the river, over the ford, 
Over the darkness to my Lord, 
Glory! Hallelujah! 

Let me then my Jesus see, 
Let him smile his smile on me. 
Glory! Hallelujah! 

Let the bells of heaven ring, 
Let the angels start to sing, 
Glory! Hallelujah! 

My old Mammy I shall see, 
Ephraim too will welcome me, 
Glory! Hallelujah! 

For when I die I want to go 
With all the darkies that I know. 
Oh Glory Hallelujah! 
88 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



MANDY 

I know a buxom 

And Mandy's her name, 
Her eyes are like opals, 

Her teeth are the same; 
Her lips are like rubies 

Now scarlet now flame, 
I know a buxom 

And Mandy's her name. 

I know a buxom 

And Mandy's her name, 
From magnolia and moonlight 

And Dixie she came; 
Her voice is like music. 

Her smile is the same, 
I know a buxom 

And Mandy's her name, 

THE NIGGER 

The Lord He made the nigger 
And He made him in the night, 

He made him for the sunshine 
And He made him for the light. 

He took a piece of cotton 
And He stuck it in his eye. 

And you'll always see a nigger 
Like a cloud roll by. 

89 



Neffro Poe?nSj Melodies 



The Lord He made the nigger 
And He made him in the night, 

He made him for the sunshine 
And He made him for the light. 

He made him in a hurry 

And He made him to be heard, 
And you'll always hear a nigger 

And he's singing like a bird. 



A REAL GOOD TIME 

"There's going to be a party," 

Said Mr. Jackson Jones, 
A rather swarthy gentleman 

And almost skin and bones; 
"There'll be music, there'll be dancing. 

There'll be chicken fat and prime, 
And sharpen up your razors 

Fo' a real good time. 

"Ahm going to that party, 

And ahm going to meet a coon. 

And settle a lil' argument 
Right in that party room; 

There'll be music, there'll be dancing, 
There'll be chicken fat and prime, 

A.nd bring along your razors 
Fo' a real good time." 



90 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



TAKE THAT FIDDLE ALONG 

Old Moses he am calling, 

He am calling me away, 
I hear it all the night time 

And I hear it all the day. 

I don't mind this here journey, 

It will not be for long, 
But when I take this journey 

I want my fiddle along. 

I ain't got much to leave you, 

I gave my soul away, 
But that fiddle was my company 

Through many a weary day. 

And when I go to heaven, 

It will not now be long, 
I'll leave all else behind me 

But I want that fiddle along. 

The ague and the rheumatiz 
Have done got in my bones, 

And the only medicine that I know 
Am that ole fiddle's tones. 

And when the harps and seraphs 

Are where they all belong. 
Oh then I'll be so happy 

To have that fiddle along. 

91 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



I know its old and wormy 

And the bow and strings not strong, 
But while I am in heaven 

I want that fiddle along. 



And mebbe that ole Moses 
When I tune up a song, 

Will say I'm glad old Ephraim 
You took that fiddle along. 



GWINE AWAY FOR CHRISTMAS 

Dear friends I'se got to tell you, 

I'se got to tell the news, 
Fse gwine away for Christmas 

And I'se gwine to have new shoes. 

The Lord he saw me walking 
And the Lord he says to me, 

Just come and see me Christmas 
And see what you will see. 

And the Lord done give his blessing 
And the Lord done give his hand, 

And he make Ole Dinah happy 
To see that Christmas land. 

So I'se gwine away for Christmas, 
Gwine to that happy shore, 

I'se gwine away for Christmas 
And I won't come back no more. 

93 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



THE PARSON'S SERMON 

"Brethren and Sistern," said Parson Jones, 

Raising his voice to its loudest tones, 

"The collection box am a gwine aroun' 

And some of that noise has a funny soun'; 

It am just like a beggar with his pleas and groans, 

The thanks am many and so am the bones. 

"Some fo'ks I know am quite so mean 

The collection box am nebber seen, 

But whar there's money lost and foun' 

There's them niggers nosin' aroun' ; 

I doan' want, I done tole you befo' 

And keep your ban's off the pahsons door. 

"The Lawd done love a cheerful giver, 

The Lawd done love, but it make me shiver, 

How it gwine to be without a cent 

A pahson gwine to preach and pay his rent ; 

Ef you tell me, can tell me true 

What am the meaning of dem I. O. U. 

"Aigs am aigs, and shells am shells 

An' weddin' bells am weddin' bells, 

But I done say this pahson am through 

With fricassed liver, and roustabout stew; 

It's time for the pahson to have a chicken dinner 

And for that chicken I'll forgive that sinner." 

93 



Neffro PoemSj Melodies 



Early next morning on the parson's stoop 
There hung a fat pullet from a neighbor's coop, 
And written on a paper in a tremulous print 
Was this transcript of the parson's hint: 
Here am the chicken for the pahson's dinner 
And it's up to the pahson to save that sinner. 



THE COTTON FIELDS OF GEORGIA 

The fields are bright, and the fields are white 

Down on the old plantation, 
And the darkies chant, and the darkies pant 

Some lullaby incantation ; 
And the blossoms blow, and the blossoms grow 

And the fields are all in order, 
And down the row — the darkies go, 

In the cotton fields of Georgia. 

The blackbird swings, and the blackbird sings 

His morning incantation, 
And the hawthorn white, is a cheery sight, 

Dov/n on the old plantation; 
And the blossoms blow and the blossoms grow 

And the fields are all in order, 
And down the row — the darkies go, 

In the cotton fields of Georgia. 



94 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



RIGHT AWAY 

I sent a message 

To the Lord on high, 
To find me a place 

In the big blue sky; 
I called to an angel 

And gave him my note, 
And the angel went away 

In a cloudy boat ; 
And what do you think 

The Lord done say, 
Come up chillun 

Right away. 

Right away chillun, right away, 
Come up chillun, right away. 

I asked the Lord 

When we were alone, 
To give me a place 

On the big white throne; 
For I saw Daniel 

And I saw John, 
All with the robes 

Of the angels on ; 
The Lord he smile 

And the Lord he say. 
Come up chillun 

Right away. 

95 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



Right away chillun, right away, 
Come up chillun, right away. 



THE FIERY FURNACE 

The fiery furnace am burning hot 
And burning hot in every spot. 
And where am the sinner gwine to turn 
When the fiery furnace burn and burn. 

The fiery furnace am so red — 
The flames jump up right over your head 
And where am the sinner gwine to turn 
When the fiery furnace burn and burn. 

The devil stands beside that fire 
While the flames go shooting higher, 
And where am the sinner gwine to turn 
When the fiery furnace burn and burn. 

The fiery furnace am down below 
Where all the sinners have got to go, 
And where am the sinner gwine to turn 
When the fiery furnace burn and burn. 

And when I die, Oh Lord! I pray, 
Keep me away from that place that day, 
For where am the sinner gwine to turn 
When the fiery furnace burn and burn. 
96 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



PICKANINNY POMPEY 

Pickaninny Pompey 

Smiling meek and bland, 
Says "Good morning, Massa, 

I'se cum sah for the can. 



"Mammy is a milking, 
The milk is in the pan, 

And Mammy says go hurry 
And get the Massa's can." 

And Pickaninny Pompey 
Wonder eyed and bland, 

Saj's "Good morning, Massa" 
As I watch him stand. 



I like this little Pompey 
And so I take his hand, 

And say to little Pompey 
"Cum Sah when you can." 



97 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



RASTUS JOHNSON 

Rastus Johnson was a coon, 

Holy smoke what eyes! 
As big as any shining moon 

Shining in the skies; 
Eyes all big and glorious, 

Eyes that would surprise. 
And if you doubt he is a coon 

Just you see dem eyes. 

Rastus Johnson was a coon, 

Holy smoke what eyes! 
As bright as any shining moon 

Shining in the skies; 
Eyes all big and glistening, 

Eyes that would surprise, 
And if you doubt he is a coon 

Just you see dem eyes. 



THE PICKANINNY BAND 

Rastus is a crying — 

He hurt his lil' hand. 
And that's the way they start it, 

This pickaninny band, 

98 



Plantation Pieces^ Camp Meeting Songs 

And Hannah wants some hoe cake, 
The hoe cake in the pan, 

And then you hear a solo 
From the pickaninny band. 

And Caesar Alexander 

Is a quarreling in the sand, 

Another active member 
Of the pickaninny band. 

And all day long and evening 

From Beersheba to Dan, 
They're playing and parading, 

This pickaninny band. 



THAT OLD FLY 

That old fly done pester me — 

Go w^ay dar and let me sleep, 

I hear him buzz and I hear him creep — 

Go way dar and let me sleep ; 

You suah done make the angels weep — 

Go way dar and let me sleep, 

You bite the horse and you bite the sheep — 

Go way dar and let me sleep, 

And for the land's sake I don't want to die 

Boddered to death by that old fly. 



99 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



THE LIABILITY 

Old Uncle Mose was explaining in detail 

High finance to his friend Mr. Quail, 

"An asset am this," said old Uncle Mose 

Pointing with pride to his tattered clothes; 

"It's what you have, and what you got — 

Cash in hand and on the spot, 

And a liability am what you owe — 

And you have no money for that debt to show; 

It am just like a chicken, that you want to borrow 

And liability says come around to morrow." 

"Am that a liability?" says suspicious Mr. Quail. 

"If that's a liability so am the jail." 



THE MENU 

The African Methodist Episcopal churches 

Were having a picnic on the birches, 

And Rastus Johnson to show his friends 

His razor from his hip unbends; 

An officer saw the hostile act 

And thought a row was on in fact, 

So without his intervention 

He thought it best to simply mention 

The menu of the eats done say 

No smoked beef or hash today. 



lOO 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



BALM OF GILEAD 

Can you imagine a cabin small 
Without a kitchen or a hall? 
And baking in a possum pan ; 
A possum in the possum land ; 
And gathered round it with their croons 
With tyes, as big and bright as moons, 
A bunch of grinning pickaninnies — 
Hannahs, Chloes, Dinahs, Minnies; 
And then the mutual exclamation 
Half in phrensy and elation. 
Golly see that possum Iliad 
That am suah a balm of Gilead. 



THE ALLIGATOR 

Whenever you see a nigger 

With a little mouth. 
Running north 

And running south. 
And with a cavern 

Like an extinct crater. 
That isn't a nigger 

That's an alligator. 



lOI 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



THE BANJO 

The banjo, banjo, banjo bring, 
Let the banjo, banjo ring. 
For my spirit only sings 
When the banjo, banjo rings. 



The banjo, banjo bring. 

Let the banjo, banjo ring. 

Then I'm crowned among the kings 

When the banjo, banjo rings. 



BRUSH DEM TEARS AWAY 

The darkies weep and the darkies pray. 
Brush, oh brush dem tears away, 
Bring in a chicken on a tray, 
Brush, oh brush dem tears away. 

And then a big watermelon in the same way, 
Brush, oh brush dem tears away. 
And when they are through you will hear them say 
All dem tears am brushed away. 



102 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



WHEN THE GOLDEN TRUMPETS 
SOUND 

When the golden trumpets sound 
Where will your soul be found, 
Standing around, standing around, 
When the golden trumpets sound. 
When the golden trumpets sound 
Where will my soul be found. 
With the crowned, with the crowned, 
When the golden trumpets sound. 



RASTUS' FATE 

Rastus Johnson had a cough 
And his demise was not far off, 
He called the doctor, called the nurse 
And said, "My cough is getting worse"; 
The doctor cautioned rest and quiet 
And put a ban on Rastus' diet, 
No more chicken no more pie 
"Stop!" said Rastus with a sigh, 
"No more chicken, no more pie? 
Go away doctor let me die." 



103 



Neffro Poems, Melodies 



THE WHANGDOODLE BAND 

1 went to hear a parson preach 

A sermon in a church, 
And all the coons were gathered round 

Wherever they could perch. 

The parson preached about a trump 
And cymbals clang and bang, 

Until the carpets took a jump 
And all the rafters rang. 

But Hannah Jones commenced to snore 
When listless dropped her hand, 

And that immediately started off 
The whole whangdoodle band. 

And brother Thomas with his bass 

Essayed to lead the score, 
Until it seemed a storm had broke 

And muffled in its roar. 

And Ephraim Squires solos played 

In such astounding tunes. 
The echoes traveled to the skies 

And floated to the moons. 

And so it went from flute to flute, 

From cornet to the drum, 
You thought the I^ird was surely here 

And all liis kingdom come. 
104 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



I never heard, I never saw 

A parson get so mad, 
He exasperated all the good 

And eulogised the bad. 

The parson shouted and he raved 
And clenched it with his hand, 

The Lord have mussy on the souls 
Of that whangdoodle band. 

RASTUS AND HIS BANJO 

Plunket}', plunkety, plunketj^, plunk, 

Plunkety, plunkety, plunk, plunk, plunk, 

Plunkety, plunkety, plunkety, plunk — 
Plunkety, plunkety, plunk, plunk, plunk. 

Ah done love mah honey all mah days, 
Ah done love mah honey and her ways, 

Ah done love into her eyes to gaze — 
Ah done love mah honey all mah days. 

Plunkety, plunkety, plunkety, plunk, 

Plunkety, plunkety, plunk, plunk, plunk, 

Plunket.v, plunkety, plunkety, plunk — 
Plunkety, plunkety, plunk, plunk, plunk. 

Ah done love mah honey all mah days, 
Ah done love mah honey's ways to praise, 

Ah done love mah honey's honey waj's — 
Ah done love mah honey all mah days. 
I05 



Neffro Poems, Melodies 



MASSA'S GONE AWAY 

Massa's gone away, 

Massa's gone away, 
I smell it in the clover 

And I smell it in the hay; 
The cocks don't crow so loudly. 

The mules don't seem to neigh, 
And everything is lonely 

Since Massa's gone away. 

The honey-suckle lingers 

Around my cabin door, 
But gone it all its sweetness 

And all its bloom is o'er; 
And everywhere I wander 

My footsteps seem to say, 
How lonely is the homestead 

Since Massa's gone away. 

SLAVERY DAYS 

Slavery days, slavery days, 
They are gone with all their ways. 
Gone the hound and gone the hoe, 
Gone the labor and the woe; 
Gone the hardship and the curse. 
Gone the better and the worse, 
And our hearts are full of praise 
For the last of slavery days. 

io6 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

Slavery days, slavery days, 
They are gone with all their ways. 
Gone the block and gone the lash, 
Gone the blow and gone the gash; 
Gone the pillar and the chain. 
Gone the stigma and the pain, 
And our hearts are full of praise 
For the last of slavery days. 



MELON TIME IN GEORGIA 

The stars begin to twinkle. 

The stars begin to shine. 
What makes those optics kindle, 

What makes those optics shine? 
And when you see them kindle 

And when you see them shine, 
It's melon time in Georgia 

And there's melons on the vine. 

The stars begin to twinkle. 

The stars begin to shine. 
With ecstasy they kindle, 

With ecstasy they shine; 
And when you see them kindle 

It always is the sign, 
It's melon time in Georgia 

And there's melons on the vine. 



107 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



THE STEAMBOAT RIDE 

All aboard the Natchez, 

All aboard the Lee, 
All aboard for Vicksburg, 

Or Memphis, Tennessee: 
They're tugging on the hawser 

And tugging on the tide 
And it's all aboard the steamboat 

For a steamboat ride. 



Now she blows the whistle 

And now she blows the steam, 
Now she's on the river 

And going down the stream: 
They're going down the river 

And running with the tide 
And it's all aboard the steamboat 

For a steamboat ride. 



Now they're in the current 

And racing like a team, 
Smoking are the funnels 

And busy is the beam: 
They're going down the river 

And going with the tide 
And it's all aboard the steamboat 

For a steamboat ride. 
1 08 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

The darkies trim the cotton 

And the darkies trim the corn; 
They're piling on the fuel 

And the whistle is the horn : 
Going down the river 

Like snowy swans they glide 
And it's all aboard the steamboat 

For a steamboat ride. 

Merry blow, the whistles, 

Merry ring the bells; 
ChurniHg are the paddles 

And foamy are the swells: 
And going down the river 

Running with the tide, 
What a glorious feeling 

On a steamboat ride. 



THE ORDERS 

Orders please, orders gents — 
The dinner am ready and fifty cents. 
Chicken, watermelon, watermelon, chicken 
How dem orders thicken, thicken. 
Orders please, orders gents — 
The dinner am ready and fifty cents. 
Chicken, watermelon, watermelon, chicken. 
How dem orders quicken, quicken. — 
Look at the reason, look at dem moons, 
All dem orders come from coons. 
109 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



MY RUBY RED ROSE 

My rose is a red rose 

A rose you can see, 
'Tis the rose of the garland 

They call Tennessee. 

Her eyes are like diamonds 
The diamonds that shine, 

And her lips are like corals 
And the pearls they entwine. 

The damasks of the morning 
Ere the sun hath arose. 

Are seen in the bosoms 
Of my ruby red rose. 

My rose is a red rose 

A rose you can see, 
'Tis the rose of the garland 

They call Tennessee. 



no 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



DIXIE SO DEAR 

There's a little log cabin in Dixie, 

In Dixie, in Dixie so dear. 
And often I think of the sunflower 

And often I wish I was near; 
There's a river that flows just beside it, 

There's a wood that is open and clear, 
And often I wish I was in it — 

In Dixie, in Dixie so dear. 

The face of my mother before me 

The children at play on the floor. 
Are things that I often remember 

And things that I often adore ; 
The lark has a nest in the wildwood. 

The voice of the cushat is near, 
And often I wish I was in it. 

In Dixie, in Dixie so dear. 



Ill 



Negro PoemSj Melodies 



MY PRETTY CREOLE BELLE 

My pretty Creole belle — 

How like a rose you smell — 

Thou hast a charm, my heart to balm, 

My pretty Creole belle. 

By the deep lagoon — 

And the light of the moon — 

I am coming soon, I am coming soon, 

My pretty Creole belle. 

My pretty Creole belle — 

How can thy charms I tell — 

Thy soul broAvn eyes, they fervid dyes, 

My pretty creole belle. 

My pretty creole belle — 
Could love devotion tell — 
I'd sigh for you, I'd die for you, 
My pretty creole belle. 



112 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



FOAH O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING 

Old Dixy was a bondman 

Down in Dixie land, 
Down in dear old Dixie, 

Dixie, Dixie land ; 
And early in the morning 

When daylight lit the bush, 
I seem to see old Dixy 

A crooning with the thrush. 



'Tis foah o'clock in the morning 

And the sun begins to shine. 
The clover am in blossom 

And the leaf am on the vine; 
'Tis foah o'clock in the morning 

And the bird am in the tree, 
And foah o'clock in the morning 

Am just the time for me. 



The snow has long since whitened 

Old Dixy's head and hands, 
Down in dear old Dixie, 

Dixie's, Dixie's lands; 
And early in the morning 

When daylight lights the bush, 
I seem to hear old Dixy 

A crooning with the thrush. 

113 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



*Tis foah o'clock in the morning 

And the wash am on the line, 
The sheep have gone to pasture 

And the milkmaid calls the kine; 
'Tis foah o'clock in the morning 

And yonder flies the bee, 
And foah o'clock in the morning 

Am just the time for me. 



And I have pictured Dixy 

Somewhere in some land, 
I hope it will be Dixie, 

Dear old Dixie land; 
When the dawn is ever radiant 

And its splendor gilds the bush. 
And old Dixy sits a crooning 

And warbling with the thrush. 



*Tis foah o'clock in the morning 

And the bird is in the tree, 
But Massa says a bondman 

I must no longer be; 
The Lord bress dear ole Massa 

For he done set me free. 
But foah o'clock in the morning 

Am good enough for me. 



114 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



IF CHICKENS WERE CROWS 

If crows were chickens 

What a feast I'd have, 
Even if dem crows 

You would have to halve; 
I'd have dem fedders 

For to make mah bed, 
And I'd wear dem fedders 

All over mah head. 

And in de mawning 

When ah wanted to snore, 
You wouldn't hear dem crows 

With their caw! caw! caw! 
But if chickens were crows 

Ah done hoi' mah breath, 
For if chickens were crows 

Ah done starve to death. 



"5 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



CHICKENS 

The parson man was praying 

And praying long and loud, 
And praying to dem niggers 

In that congregation crowd; 
The parson man am hungry 

And the church rent must be found, 
So don't forget these prayers 

When the basket comes around. 

And each and every nigger 

With pity in his eyes, 
Fingered in his pockets 

And turned them to the skies; 
You heard the benediction 

And the ticking of the clock, 
When someone shouted chickens 

And stampeded all the flock. 

THE EAGLE AND THE ROOSTER 

The eagle is a dandy bird 

He sits upon his perch, 
Just like a flock of pigeons 

In the belfry of a church; 
But when that eagle starts to scream 

And flap his wings in air. 
Excuse me fob a minute 

But I'd rather not be there. 
ii6 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 

The rooster is a dandy bird, 

He sits upon his perch 
Just like a handsome lady 

In the bosom of her church; 
And when that rooster starts to crow 

And flap his wings in air, 
Excuse me fob a minute 

But I'd rather then be there. 



DOWN IN GEORGIA 

I saw an aged negro, 

His hair as white as snow, 
And he was pondering deeply 

The days of long ago ; 
His thoughts were running backward 

His eyes bent to the ground, 
And he was murmuring Georgia 

And Missus walking around. 

And as I saw him brooding 

Beneath an old oak tree, 
It needed no great urging 

To bring his past to me; 
I saw him in the cotton. 

The cotton row on row, 
I saw him in the cornfield 

And I saw him with the hoe. 
117 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



I saw the old plantation 

A home to him no more, 
A cabin small and homely 

And children round the door; 
And flowers wreathing roses 

And breathing sweets around, 
And this was down in Georgia 

And Missus walking around. 

I know he was a bondman, 

His flesh still lacked the pound, 
For he was murmuring Georgia 

And Missus walking round; 
He whistled and he shuffled — 

Some joy was breaking ground, 
Or why did he mention Georgia? 

And Missus walking round. 



ii8 



Plantation Pieces^ Camp Meeting Songs 



JUBA 

Juba am the music — 

I always like to hear, 
'Tis music to my feelings, 

And music to my ear. 
I may be feeling lonesome 

Without a reason for 
But when I hear that Juba 

I done cry no moah. 



I haven't any banj( 

I haven't any bow, 
But I doan' need a fiddle 

To make my Juba go. 
I may be feeling lonesome 

Without a reason for 
But when I hear that Juba 

I done cry no moah. 

GWINE TO THE BALL 

Gwine to the ball, Liz, 

Gwine to the ball? 
You will be a belle, Liz, 

You are fair and tall; 
You will be a belle, Liz, 

With your eyes of brown, 
And you will be a belle, Liz, 

In 5'our buckram gown. 

119 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



Gwine to the ball, Liz, 

In your buckram gown? 
You will be a belle, Liz, 

With your eyes of brown, 
You will be a belle, Liz, 

You are fair and tall, 
Gwine to the ball, Liz, 

Gwine to the ball. 



GWINE TO SEE MY GAL 

Rastus had a rival 

For Miss Matilda's hand. 
He played the second fiddle 

In the Ethiopian band; 
And Henry started singing 

As he gave his bow a whirl — 
Tomorrow am a coming 

And I'm gwine to see my girl. 

And Rastus heard him singing 

And Rastus saw his smile, 
And that roused Rastus' anger 

And that roused Rastus' bile; 
And Rastus started singing 

As he soaked him on the head — 
Tomorrow am a coming 

And you am gwine to be dead. 



120 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



NIGGERING AROUND 

"Good morning, Marse Henry 

How am the little chile?" 
Said Rastus Johnson softly 

And with a nigger smile; 
Now Rastus wanted something 

He wanted Henrys hound, 
And that's the way a nigger 

Comes niggering around. 

With money in his pockets 

And clothes upon his back, 
You can always tell a nigger 

By the way a nigger acts; 
They guffaw like a donkey 

And when you hear that sound, 
You always know the nigger 

Has been niggering around. 

THE HORNET AND THE BEE 

Hear that hornet buzzing, 

See that hornet fly. 
He don't make no honey, 

He don't want to try; 
He am just a torment 

And it am plain to me, 
The hornet am the dog whip 

And the black man am the bee. 
121 



Neffro Poems, Melodies 



Dat old hornet's buzzing 

Always in my ear, 
I hear him when I'm distant 

I hear him when I'm near; 
All the time he's buzzing 

And it am plain to me, 
The hornet am the dog whip 

And the black man am the bee. 

He come round a buzzing 

And he sing a tune, 
But that tune ain't roses 

Nor the silvery moon ; 
Keep away old hornet 

Don't you dare sting me, 
For the hornet am the dog whip 

And the black man am the bee. 



122 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



THE TWO MASTERS 

I had two good masters — 
Said Rastus Johnson Snow, — 

I had two good masters 

As you would want to know. 

They never shouted flog him, 

See he idle stands, 
But they always cheered me — 

These two good old hands. 

I always did my duty 

When working with the hoe, 
And round about my labor 

They always with me go. 

I drove the mules all morning 
And ploughed the cotton lands. 

And happy was the master 
Of these two old hands. 

Massa Right was gentle, 

Massa Left was kind. 
And what the other did do 

The other didn't mind. 

The Lord was good to Moses, 
He obeyed the Lord's command, 

And I bless the Lord Almighty 
For dem two old hands. 
123 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



HAUL THAT WOODPILE DOWN 

Blow dem whistles, steamboat, 

Blow dem long and loud. 
For I want to see the smoke steam 

And I want to see the cloud ; 
And when you blow dem whistles 

Blow dem so they sound, 
For I want to hear dem whistles 

Haul that woodpile down. 



Haul that woodpile down, 
Haul that woodpile down, 

The darkies they are singing 
As they go round and round ; 

Singing to dem whistles, 
Haul that woodpile down. 



Blow dem whistles, steamboat, 

Blow dem loud and long, 
Blow dem like a siren 

And blow dem like a song, 
And when you blow dem whistles 

Blow dem so they sound; 
For I want to hear dem whistles 

Haul that woodpile down. 
124 



Plantation PieceSj Camp Meeting Sonffs 

Blow dem whistles, steamboat, 

Blow dem loud and clear, 
Blow dem for the distant 

And blow dem for the near; 
And when you bldw dem whistles 

Blow dem so they sound, 
For I want to hear dem whistles 

Haul that woodpile down. 

Blow dem whistles, steamboat, 

Blow dem like a horn, 
Blow dem for the cotton 

And blow dem for the com; 
And when you blow dem whistles 

Blow dem so they sound, 
For I want to hear dem whistles 

Haul that woodpile down. 



NO MOON TONIGHT 

Rastus likes to sing a song 
That doesn't take him very long. 
The buck and wing and pigeon wing 
You often hear him chirp and sing; 
And Mandy Lee and Dinah dear 
Will linger on your listening ear, 
But his favorite sweet and trite 
Is that song, No Moon Tonight. 



125 



Neffro Poems, Melodies 



GOOD BYE LIZA JANE 

When I go back to Dixie 

I hope the sun will shine, 
When I go back to Dixie 

I hope the day is fine; 
When I go back to Dixie 

You won't see me again, 
When I go back to Dixie 

Good bye Liza Jane 
Good bye Liza Jane 

Good bye Liza Jane 
When I go back to Dixie 

Good bye to Liza Jane. 

When I go back to Dixie 

I want to see the corn, 
When I go back to Dixie 

I want to hear the horn ; 
When I go back to Dixie 

You won't see me again, 
When I go back to Dixie 

Good bye Liza Jane; 
Good bye Liza Jane 

Good bye Liza Jane, 
When I go back to Dixie 

Good bye Liza Jane. 



126 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



DID YOU SEE ME 

I went riding in a great big car — 

Did you, did you, did you see me? 
I was smoking a very fine cigar — 

Did you, did you, did you see me? 

All of the girls were waving their hans' 

And hidin' their smiles behin' their fans 

And I was pityin' dem po' white mans. 

Did you, did you, did you see me. 

I went walking with Eliza Jane — 

Did you, did you, did you see me? 
Wore a gold ring and a big gold chain, 

Did you, did j'ou, did you see me? 
All of dem coons they had to stare — 
When they saw me with Eliza there 
And for their frowns what did I care, 
Did you, did you, did you see me. 

I got acquainted with Doctor Jones — 
Did you, did you, did you see me? 
Good morning, Mr. Sam, in his blandest tones, 

Did you, did you, did you see me? 
All the people looked, when he took my han' 
And wondered to themselves who am that man 
But I jes' enjoyed the situation an' — 
Did you, did you, did you see me. 



127 



Neffro Poems, Melodies 



THE CHARIOT MAN 

I saw a chariot waiting — 

A chariot big and bright, 
The horses all had wings on 

And the harness all was white; 
I got aboard that chariot 

And happy was my pride, 
When I was in that chariot 

And Jesus by my side. 

The driver man was Jesus 

The driver man was God, 
And soon we got to heaven 

Along the heavenly road; 
I got down from the chariot 

And happy was my pride, 
To think I had been riding 

With Jesus by my side. 



128 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



WHEN I GET THERE THAT DAY 

I'm gwine to heaven, on the judgment day — 
I'm gwine to heaven, in the good old way, 
And come all the rivers, and come all the floods, 
Come all the fires, and come all the bloods; 
They can't stop the shouting in my soul 
When I get there that day. 

It won't be long and it won't be far 

Before I reach those gates ajar, 

And come all the rivers, and come all the floods. 

Come all the fires, and come all the bloods; 

They can't stop the shouting in my soul — 

When I get there that day. 



129 



Neffro Poems, Melodies 



KEEP THAT CHARIOT ROLLING 

The judgment day am coming, 

I feel it near at hand, 
When before the Lord Almighty 

We all have got to stand; 
So Elijah tell the angels 

And tell them too this day. 
To keep that chariot rolling 

And rolling down this way. 

Then w ill the thunders rattle 

And lightnings light the sky, 
Then will the sinners tremble 

Before that mighty eye; 
So Elijah tell the angels 

And tell them too this day. 
To keep that chariot rolling 

And rolling down this way. 



130 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



OLD JOHN BROWN 

Old John Brown 

He set me free, 
Old John Brown 

Done this for me. 
Glory Hallelujah! 

To the snow white lamb! 
Glory Hallelujah! 

What a wretch I am. 



Old John Brown 

He started the war, 
Old John Brown 

What a sword he wore. 
Glory Hallelujah 

To the blood of the lamb! 
Glory Hallelujah! 

What a wretch I am. 



Old John Brown 

Came marching along. 
He saw me weeping 

And he heard my song, 
He washed my sins 

In the blood of the lamb ! 
Glory Hallelujah! 

What a saint I am. 

131 



Negro Poerns, Melodies 



DOWN ON THE OLD PLANTATION 

'Tis the early dawn and the early morn, 
You hear the mule and you hear the horn, 
You hear the wind and the rustle of the corn 
Down on the old plantation. 



The cabin smoke is rising high, 
The pigs are grunting in the sty, 
The early birds begin to fly 
Down on the old plantation. 

The river flows a silvery trail. 
The flowers scent the dewy gale. 
There goes the milkmaid with her pail 
Down on the old plantation. 

The cotton is white and the corn is green 
And over the hoe the darkies lean, 
The song is sung and the smile is seen 
Down on the old plantation. 

The night is bright and the river gleams 
Beneath the moonlight's silvery beams, 
And amid such scenes the darky dreams 
Down on the old plantation. 



132 



Plantation Pieces j Camp Meeting Songs 



THE MULE 

I sing in simple language — 

The virtues of a beast, 
On whom the praises languish 

And on whom the idyls cease ; 
A paragon of patience 

The best j'ou ever saw, 
He may not be a beauty — 

But he's honest to the core. 



Just hitch him to a mountain — 

And tap him with the whip, 
And you'll see that mountain rolling 

And you'll see that mountain slip; 
And all he wants is fodder 

And a bedding in the straw, 
And he may not be a beauty — 

But he's honest to the core. 



Up the hill, and down the hill 

He'll amble with his load. 
But you must urge him gently 

And don't use too much the goad; 
And if he stoops to folly — 

What is his balking for? 
But a protest to his master 

That he's honest to the core. 

133 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



Handsome is, as handsome does — 

May do for kings and queens, 
Or when you're driving tandem 

Where fashion struts and preens; 
But when you're ploughing stubble 

Or hauling guns in war, 
There's nothing like his muleship 

So honest to the core. 

As homely as the thistle 

On which he loves to feed, 
How humble is his portion 

And how glorious is his deed ; 
And everywhere he travels 

It is the common law, 
He may not be a beauty 

But he's honest to the core. 



LIVING HIGH 

Ahm living high, ahm living high. 

Ah can almost touch the sky, 

Where was you Rastus, when you was living high? 

Up in a tree with a hound close by ; 

Ahm living high, ahm living high — 

Go way chile, I want to fly. 

Where was you Rastus, when you was living high? 

Up in a tree with a hound close by. 



134 



Plantation Pieces^ Camp Meeting Songs 



REFRAINS 

Those Moses men, those Moses men, 
Those Moses men of God, 

Oh ! glory to those Moses men. 
Those Moses men of God. 

Roll that stone, roll that stone, 

Roll that stone away, 
Roll that stone, roll that stone. 

Oh! roll that stone away. 

The glory man, the glory man. 

Dwelling in the sky. 
Oh! I want to see that glory man 

Dwelling in the sky. 



DEM GOLDEN BELLS 

Oh dem bells, dem golden bells 

Ringing, ringing, flinging, flinging, 

All my soul is singing, singing 
When I hear dem golden bells. 

Oh dem bells, dem golden bells 

Sounding, sounding, pounding, pounding 
Zion ! Zion ! they are crying 

When I hear dem golden bells. 

1J5 



Neffro Poems, Melodies 



SINIA 

Take me Lord, and take me quick, 
My heart is sad, my soul is sick, 
I want to get off, Sinia, Sinia — 
I want to get off at Sinia. 

Hurry Lord, for here I come, 
Sound the trumpet, boom the drum, 
I want to get off, Sinia, Sinia — 
I want to get off at Sinia. 



THE HALLELUJAH TRAIN 

The hallelujah train is almost ready, 
We're bound for Canaan and the Lord, 

And when you hear those bells a ringing — 
Get aboard, get aboard. 

We're going through a land of honey, 
Where angel voices praise the Lord, 

And when you hear those angels singing — 
Get aboard, get aboard. 

There is no stopping by the wayside 
There's only one wide river to ford, 

And when you hear those voices calling 
Get aboard, get aboard. 
136 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



WHERE IS MY DINAH? 

Where is my Dinah? 

Why does she hide? 
Why is she absent 

From her honey's side? 

Where is my Dinah? 

When was she aroun' ? 
There is my Dinah 

In her bran' new gown. 

Where is my Dinah? 

Where can I find, 
The one that makes me happy 

The one that is so kind ? 

Where is my Dinah? 

I just heard a soun', 
There is my Dinah 

In her bran' new gown. 

Where is my Dinah? 

Where can she be? 
Why does she wander 

All alone from me? 

Where is my Dinah? 

At last, at last, I've foun', 
There is my Dinah 

In her bran' new gown. 

137 



Negro PoemSj Melodies 



POSSUM JUICE 

White folks, white folks 

Wear a long face, 
They am never happy 

Like the black race; 
I could tell mah troubles 

But what am the use? 
Thinking of that possum 

And that possum juice. 

Ah ain't got no money. 

Ah can't pay mah rent, 
My feet am heavy, 

My back am bent; 
Ah could tell mah troubles 

But what am the use? 
Thinking of that possum 

And that possum juice, 

Satan say I'se wicked, 

Satan say I die, 
Satan doan' know me, 

Satan done lie; 
I is very happy 

But what am the use? 
Thinking of that possum 

And that possum juice. 

138 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



COME ALONG CHILLUN 

A very nice angel 

In very nice clothes, 
Asked me a question 

And what do you suppose? 
Come along, chillun 

The ark is on the way, 
Get aboard, chillun, 

Get aboard today. 

A very nice angel 

In very nice clothes. 
Asked me a question 

And what do you suppose? 
The judgment am a coming 

Coming on the way. 
Come along, chillun, 

Come along today. 

THE PROMIS' LAN' 

A poor old nigger worn and gray. 
Looking for a place to rest and pray, 
Moses come and take him by the hand, 
Moses am that promised land. 

Milk and honey now he eat 
And rest he found for his poor feet, 
For Moses take him by the hand 
And Moses am that promised land. 

139 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



WHAT ARE YOU DOING UP THERE? 

What are you doing up there? 
What are you doing up there? 
Come right down, with that heavenly crown, 
• What are you doing up there? 

What are you doing up there? 
What are you doing up there? 
I'm on my way, to that glorious day 
That's what I'm doing up there. 

What are you doing up there? 

What are you doing up there? 

Come right down, with that heavenly crown. 

What are j^ou doing up there? 

What are you doing up there? 

What ai'e you doing up there? 

I'm filled with the fire, of the heavenly choir, 

That's what I'm doing up there. 

What are you doing up there? 

What are you doing up there? 

Come right down, with that heavenly crown. 

What are you doing up there? 

What are you doing up there? 

What are you doing up there? 

Im living with God, in the smile of the Lord, 

That's what I'm doing up there. 

140 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



ELIJAH RING THAT BELL 

I heard the good Lord calling, 

I heard the good Lord say, 
Elijah stands a waiting 

To show me on my w-ay; 
I do not fear the journey 

All through the night and day 
When I know Elijah's waiting 

To show me on my way. 

Elijah! Elijah! Elijah! ring that bell, 

Elijah! Elijah! Elijah! ring that bell, 

I'm going over the river, but when I cannot tell; 

Oh! oh! Elijah! Elijah! ring that bell. 

My soul is ready waiting 

To go and see my Lord, 
I do not fear his anger, 

I do not fear his sword ; 
He called me on my journey 

And he told me not to stay, 
And he said the angel Elijah 

Would show me on my way. 

Elijah! Elijah! Elijah! ring that bell, 
Elijah! Elijah! Elijah! ring that bell, 
I'm going over the river, but when I cannot tell, 
Oh! oh! Elijah! Elijah! ring that bell. 
141 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



PHAROAH 

Pharoah was a monarch, 

Pharoah was a king, 
He wore a silken girdle 

And he wore a golden ring; 
He had a lovely daughter 

As lovely as could be, 
He couldn't catch Moses 

And he can't catch me. 

Pharoah was a monarch, 

Pharoah was a king, 
He wore a silken girdle 

And he wore a golden ring; 
He couldn't stop the waters, 

He couldn't cross the sea, 
He couldn't catch Moses 

And he can't catch me. 

ALL RIGHT MOSES I'LL BE THERE 

Moses done tell me, there am gwine to be 
A great big treat in store for me, 
Let the day be foul or fair. 
All right Moses I'll be there. 

Moses done tell me, I am gwine to see 
Something the Lord has in store for me. 
Let the day be foul or fair. 
All right Moses I'll be there. 
142 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



FORTY ACRES AND A MULE 

Forty acres and a mule — 

A little warm a little cool, 

A little cabin and a floor, 

A little flower round the door; 

A little well, a little tree, 

A little sky for all to see, 

A little porker in a pen, 

A little rooster and a hen; 

Some sweet potatoes and a yam, 

A big fat possum and a ham, 

And why should Sambo want to roam 

From that fohty and that home? 

Forty acres and a mule, 
A little cabin and a school. 
Pickaninnies on the floor 
And a Mammy watching o'er; 
A patch of clover and of wheat, 
A honey hive of honey sweet, 
A field of cotton and of corn, 
A blackbird singing in the morn ; 
A little cloud, a little rain, 
A little road, a little lane, 
And wouldn't Sambo be a fool 
To leave that fohty and that mule? 



143 



Negro Poems, Aielodies 



CAROLINE 

Virginny am some pumpkins 
An' Marylan' divine, 

But dey can't hold a candle — 
Down in Caroline. 



George Washington, President, 
He made the people shine, 

But gib me Marse Pinckney — 
Down in Caroline. 



The breezes seem more softer — 
The air seems more like wine, 

The friends and counsels dearer 
Down in Caroline. 

And when my days are over 
Beneath some spreading pine, 

I want to meet the judgment — 
Down in Caroline. 



So sang darky David — 
Trimming bush and vine. 

And singing with the skylark 
Down in Caroline. 



144 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



THE JUDGMENT MORN 

The judgment day is coming, 

Hark! the trumpet's sound, 
Wake up sleepers, wake up 

When Gabriel comes around; 
Take away that banjo 

On that judgment morn, 
For I'd like to be old Gabriel 

Blowing on that horn. 

Hark! the trumpet's blowing. 

Hark! the trumpets' sound. 
Get up sleepers, get up 

When Gabriel comes around ; 
Take away that banjo 

On that judgment morn, 
For Ed like to be old Gabriel 

Blowing on that horn. 



THE DARKIES' JUBILEE 

It am coming, it am coming, 

It am coming very soon, 
I can hear it in the thunder, 

I can see it in the moon ; 
All the darkies will be waiting. 

All the darkies will be free. 
For the coming of the Saviour 

And the darkies' jubilee. 

145 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



It am coming, it am coming, 

It am coming on the way, 
I can hear it in the night time, 

I can hear it in the day; 
Moses will be past grand master 

And our friends we all will see, 
When the Saviour gives the greeting 

At the darkies' jubilee. 



ROLL ON, JORDAN, ROLL 

Roll on, Jordan, roll on. 

Roll on, deep and wide, 
Roll on in your power — 

Roll on in your pride; 
Roll on, Jordan, roll on, 

There is glory in my soul, 
Roll on, Jordon, roll on — 

Roll on, Jordan, roll. 

Roll on, Jordan, roll on. 

Roll on, night and day, 
Roll on in your glory — 

Roll on in your way; 
Roll on, Jordan, roll on. 

There is glorj- in my soul. 
Roll on, Jordan, roll on, 

Roll on, Jordan, roll. 



146 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



DIXIE DARKY LAND 

Down in Dixie darkj;^ land 
There the folks am fine and grand, 
Heart to heart and hand to hand 
Down in Dixie darky land. 

Hear them banjos dum, dum, dum, 
Hear them fiddles turn, turn, turn, 
Hear those darkies hum, hum, hum 
Down in Dixie darky land. 

See the chillun at their play, 
See the river on its way, 
See the sunflowers bright and gay 
Down in Dixie darky land. 

See that cotton, see that corn. 
See that blackbird on the thorn, 
Happy the day that I was born 
Down in Dixie darky land. 

Lovely is the lovely night. 
There the stars are pure and white, 
And the moon is always bright 
DoAvn in Dixie darky land. 



147 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN 

My heart is happy, 

My heart is glad, 
Dinah makes me happy, 

Dinah makes me glad; 
Her hair is curly. 

Her eyes are brown, 
And I'm going to meet her 

When the sun goes down. 

Many are the maidens, 

Many are their charms, 
But of all the maidens 

Dinah only charms; 
Her teeth are pearlj'^. 

Her cheeks are brown. 
And I'm going to meet her 

When the sun goes down. 

Moonlight on the water, 

Moonlight on the stream, 
That is Dinah laughing 

Like a rippling beam; 
Soon the night is coming. 

Soon the stars will crown, 
And I'm going to meet her 

When the sun goes down. 

148 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



DINAH COME WITH ME 

Dinah I am calling, 

Dinah do you hear? 
For the shades are falling 

And the night is near; 
Come with me, Dinah, 

Dinah, come with me. 
By the light of the moon, Dinah, 

Dinah, come with me. 

Dinah I am calling, 

Dinah do you hear? 
Though the night is falling 

Dinah do not fear ; 
Come with me, Dinah, 

Dinah, come with me, 
By the light of the moon, Dinah, 

Dinah, come with me. 

MY LITTLE BLACK EYED CHLOE 

The moon is on the river 

And the moon is on the stream 
And there is one I'm thinking of 

And of whom I often dream; 
Her eyes are like the blossoms 

Of the hyacinths when they blow, 
And I call her, yes I call her 

My little black eyed Chloe. 
149 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



The stars begin to twinkle 

And the stars begin to gleam, 
And still of Chloe I'm thinking 

And still of Chloe I dream; 
And no flower in the garden 

Does ever sweeter grow, 
More sweeter than the sweetness 

Of my little black eyed Chloe. 



WHERE THE WOODBINE GROWS 

Down in Alabama 

Among the dusky Chloes, 
Down in Alabama 

Where the woodbine grows; 
There lives a pretty maiden 

As sweet as any rose, 
Down in Alabama 

Where the woodbine grows. 

Her face is like the olive, 

Her eyes are like the snows, 
Down in Alabama 

Where the woodbine grows; 
And I'm going to wed her 

And wed her with the rose, 
Down in Alabama 

Where the woodbine grows. 



150 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



MANDY'S SOLILOQUY 

The Lord almighty mighty 

Have mercy on my soul, 
Just hear them niggers praying, 

Just see them eyeballs roll; 
And when I see them niggers 

And hear them niggers pray, 
I surely think the Lord am gwine 

To strike them dead some day. 

There's nigger Rastus Johnson, 

He am a funny coon, 
He loves to go a roving 

When the cloud am on the moon; 
And they do say Rastus Johnson 

When he begins to pray. 
Must surely tempt the good great Lord 

To strike him dead some day. 

And as for that Jim Henry 

I see upon his knees, 
The Lord have mercy on my soul 

To see such coons as these ; 
For when I see them niggers 

And hear them niggers pray, 
I surely think the Lord am gwine 

To strike them dead some day. 



151 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



THE OLD BANJO 

Take me back to Dixie — 

To Dixie let me go, 
And let me hear the music 

Of the old banjo. 

I've been away from Dixie 
But sweet the echoes grow, 

Of Dixie in the evening 
And the old banjo. 

So take me back to Dixie — 
The Dixie that I know, 

For I want to hear the music 
Of the old banjo. 

I long to be in Dixie — 

In Dixie with the hoe, 
And hear the darkies playing 

The old banjo. 

And although my hair is whitened 

And heavy is my toe, 
I still can dance a shuffle 

To the old banjo. 

And when I get to heaven 
How great will be my woe, 

If I cannot hear the playing 
Of the old banjo. 

152 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



SONGS OF DIXIE 

There are songs of Dixie 

That everybody knows, 
I wish I was in Dixie 

And where the Swanee flows; 
But the song I like in Dixie 

Is not the river's foam, 
But a cabin in the clearing 

And home sweet home. 

I want not Massa's mansion, 

His oxen or his sheep, 
But oh I want a cabin 

Where I can rest and sleep ; 
For the song I love in Dixie 

Is not the river's foam. 
But a cabin in the clearing 

And home sweet home. 

A PLAINTIVE MELODY 

Massa got chickens, Massa got shoats, 
Massa got cornfields, Massa got oats; 
Massa got a nigger, nigger got a hoe, 
Working, working, everywhere you go. 

Massa got chillun, Massa got clothes, 
Massa got fire, Massa got those; 
Massa got a nigger, nigger got a hoe. 
Working, working, everj^vhere you go. 

153 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



Massa got oxen, Massa got a plough, 
Massa got cotton, cotton grow now, 
Massa got a nigger, nigger got a hoe, 
Working, working, everywhere you go. 

Massa got a Sunday, Massa got a God, 
Massa got a heaven, Massa got a rod; 
Massa got a nigger, nigger got a hoe. 
Working, working, everywhere you go. 



THE SUNFLOWER 

There's a flower in the garden — 

A flower that I know, 
It has a golden glory 

And it has a golden glow; 
Shiny are its features 

And golden is its hair, 
And it is the happy sunflower 

That I see there. 

There's a flower in the garden — 

A flower big and bright, 
The glory of the morning 

And the splendor of the night; 
Radiant are its features 

And its face is fair, 
And it is the happy sunflower 

That I see there. 



154 



Plantation Pieces ^ Camp Meeting Songs 



HOE CAKE SONG 

The dinner time was passing 

And waiting was the ham, 
The possums had been eaten 

And ready was the jam; 
The coons began to grumble, 

There must be some delay, 
For what made them darkies grumble, 

And what made them darkies say: 
Ah doan' want no dumplings. 

No raisin cake or pound, 
But when you jes' get ready 

Pass that hoe cake round. 

They cared not for the coffee 
They cared not for the coffee. 
They only wanted hoe cake 

With every course between; 
And feasting on the luscious 

Or breaking bread with Kings, 
Was nothing to the hoe cake 

Of which their longing sings: 
Ah doan' want no dumpligs. 

No raisin cake or pound, 
But when you jes' get ready 

Pass that hoe cake round. 



155 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



THE WEDDIN' GOWN 

Mandy Johnson wears a smile — 
What makes Mandy pleased the while? 
There are rumors in the town — 
Mandy has a weddin' gown. 

The stripes are big, and the stripes are red 
And there is a hood to fit the head : 
And they say no queen or crown 
Ever was like Mandy 's gown. 

There were laces there were beads — 
There were velvets there were seeds: 
And from the girdle hanging down 
Was a blue ribbon on the gown. 

Mandy learned to stitch and sew — 
To make that gown to please her beau: 
And he declared did Mistah Brown 
There never was such a weddin' gown. 

Before the parson Mandy stands 
Holding her honey's horny hands, 
And their blushes soft and brown 
Were spread all over that weddin' gown. 

There was a party and a dance — 
And soft the whispering and the glance. 
And the song that most went round 
Was glory, glory, to that gown. 

156 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



THE CATFISH FRY 

The niggers down in Dixie 

They have a lot of fun, 
With fishing in the rivers 

And sleeping in the sun; 
And if you want a nigger 

To roll his nigger eye, 
Just you tell that nigger 

Of a nigger catfish fry. 



That chicken and that pone cake 

And that melon on the vine, 
Can never hold a candle 

To a catfish on a line; 
And when the fire's waiting 

And the fat is spouting high, 
There's bound to be a nigger 

And a nigger catfish fry. 



The Lord he made the honey 

And the Lord he made the bee, 
And the Lord he made the catfish 

And he made the catfish free ; 
And there's nothing down in Dixie 

That will better please your eye, 
Than to see a nigger fooling 

With a nigger catfish fry. 

157 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



A hundred or a dozen — 

It is all the same to Mose, 
There is languor in his manner, 

There is langour in his clothes; 
But just you watch that nigger 

And just you watch his eye, 
When you see that nigger fooling 

With that nigger catfish fry. 



WHEN MASSA BLOWS THAT HORN 

Blow that horn old Massa 

Blow it for the dawn, 
Blow it for the cotton 

And blow it for the corn; 
Blow it for the cabin — 

See the day is born, 
And the darkies must be waking 

When Massa blows that horn. 

The hounds begin their baying 

The birds all come around. 
The mules they are neighing, 

The weather vane turns round; 
Blow it for the cabin — 

See the day is born. 
And the darkies must be waking 

When Massa blows that horn. 



158 



Plantation PieceSj Camp Meeting Songs 



THE ROOSTING ROOSTERS 

Rastus has a banjo, 

It only has a string, 
Hear old Rastus playing, 

Hear old Rastus sing; 
The night is dark and stormy 

And the wind goes rushing by, 
As he chants upon the chorus 

Why dem roosters roost so high. 

Roost away old rooster, 

Roost upon that limb, 
When ah wants to git you 

Ah won't have to swim; 
But some night 3'ou'll be roosting 

With your wing across your eye 
And then you'll be a rooster 

With dem roosters in the sky. 

Ah know j^ou fear the tempest, 

Ah know j^ou fear the rain, 
Ah know dem foxes prowling 

Done give you lots of pain; 
But some night you'll be roosting 

With your wing across your eye. 
And then you'll be a roosting 

With dem roosters in the sky. 

159 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



THE GOLDEN CROWN 

I'm on the road, the heavenly road — 

That leads to the heavenly gate, 
And the crossroads wind, and the crossroads lead 

And I haven't got long to wait; 
My back is bent and my feet are worn — 

And my head is almost bare, 
But that golden crown, am a coming down 

When I get ready to wear. 

When I get ready, when I get ready — 

When I get ready to wear, 
That golden crown, am a coming down 

When I get ready to wear. 

The road is long, and the road is hard — 

And dangers oft beset. 
But I dry my eyes with a heavenly smile 

Whenever they get wet; 
And the crossroads wind, and the crossroads lead 

And the briers tear and tear, 
But that golden crown, am a coming down — 

When I get ready to wear. 

When I get ready, when I get ready — 

When I get ready to wear, 
That golden crown, am a coming down 

When I get ready to wear. 
1 60 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



WHEN THE TIDE TURNS ROUND 

Steamboat start dem paddles, 

Start dem paddles round, 
I want to go to Memphis 

For I am homeward bound. 
I done come from Georgia 

But the boat done get aground 
And I'm gwine back to Memphis 

When the tide turns round. 

Steamboat start dem paddles. 

Start dem paddles round, 
I can't wait no longer — 

Till I hear that sound. 
My cabin home is calling, 

I hear the horn and hound 
And I'm gwine back to Memphis 

Wlien the tide turns round. 

THE HOE DOWN 

Tell all the niggers to get out their hoes — 
And come right away in their every day clothes. 
There's going to be a hoe down, down the rows. 
Hoe down, hoe down, hoe. 

Hoe down niggers, don't stand around — 
Massa am coming with a whip and a hound. 
Hoe to the bottom, and hoe to the top — 
For the cotton got to grow, and the nigger mustn't 
stop. 

i6i 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



Mandy and Mose are down the row 
And close behind comes old black Joe — 
Down to the fence and back they go — 
Hoe down, hoe down, hoe. 

Hoe down niggers, hoe down quick — 
Hoe down the weeds where they done grow thick, 
The sun am hot and the nigger might drop — 
But the cotton must grow, and the nigger musn't 
stop. 



THE ROUSTABOUT 

The steamboat's on the river 

Or the steamboat's in the dock, 
It is early in the morning 

Or it's nearly four o'clock; 
And the roustabout is singing 

As the steamboat whistle blows. 
For he's always with the steamboat 

Where the steamboat goes. 

The steamer tugs the hawser 

Or the steamboat tugs the tide, 
Just like a mettled racer 

That is eager for a ride; 
And the roustabout is singing 

As the steamboat whistle blows. 
For he's always with the steamboat 

Where the steamboat goes. 

162 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



WHEN THE WASH AM OUT 

Glory Hallelujah! 

Hallelujah evermore, 
I've been down to Jordan — 

To Jordan's cleansing shore ; 
And one thing you can be sure of 

And make no bones about, 
You needn't come around, old debbil 

When the wash am out. 

When the wash am out, 

When the wash am out, 

You needn't come around, old debbil 

When the wash am out. 

Once I was so sinful 

And once I was so vile. 
My conscience never was stricken 

By any joy or smile; 
But I've been down to Jordan 

And that is why I shout, 
You needn't come around, old debbil 

When the wash am out. 

When the wash am out. 

When the wash am out, 

You needn't come around, old debbil 

When the wash am out. 

163 



Neffro Poems, Melodies 



DIAMONDS 

Some folks they like diamonds, 

Diamonds big to wear, 
Diamonds in their bosoms 

And diamonds in their hair; 
But I could be so happy 

Yum! Yum! 
If I only had a chicken 

In mv finger and my thumb. 



The diamonds some folks are wearing 

Are scandalous to see, 
They have diamonds for their breakfast 

And diamonds for their tea; 
But I could be so happy 

Yum ! Yum ! 
If I only had a chicken 

In my finger and my thumb. 

There's that old Rastus Johnson, 

He got a diamond ring, 
As big as any war club 

Of any African king; 
But I would be so happy 

Yum ! Yum ! 
If I only had a chicken 

In my finger and my thumb. 

164 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



THE OLD MEWL 

Pickaninnies cra\\ ling 

Round about the floor, 
Ducks and chickens hopping 

In and out the door; 
And happy is the darky 

And he has a jewel, 
With Hannah in the garden 

And that old mewl. 

Rabbits in the bushes, 

Possums in the tree. 
Honey in the locust 

Come and get me; 
And happy is the darky 

And he has a jewel, 
With Hannah in the garden 

And that old mewl. 

MOONLIGHT 

A moonlight night in Dixie, 

A moonlight night to dream. 
Moonlight on the savannahs 

And moonlight on the stream ; 
And when thinking of my childhood 

My heart abundant goes, 
Back to sunny Dixie 

Where the sweet magnolia grows, 
165 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



A moonlight night in Dixie, 

A moonlight night to dream, 
Moonlight with its glimmer 

And moonlight with its gleam; 
And when thinking of my childhood 

My heart in fondness goes, 
Back to sunny Dixie 

Where the Swanee river flows. 



THE SUN DO MOVE 

The world am round 

And the world am flat. 
And we'll let it go — 

On its way at that ; 
"But praise the Lawd 

For I can prove," 
Said old brother Jasper, 

"That the sun do move.' 



Joshua made — 

The sun stand still. 
While he fought the fight 

On the holy hill ; 
"But praise the Lawd 

For I can prove," 
Said old brother Jasper, 

"That the sun do move." 



1 66 



Plantation Pieces, Camp Meeting Songs 



THE COLORED CHILDREN'S 
CATECHISM 

Who made the land? 

And who made the sea? 
Who made the black man? 

And who made him free? 
Abraham Lin'cum made the land, 

Abraham Lin'cum made the sea, 
Abraham Lin'cum made the black man 

And Abraham Lin'cum made him free. 

Who made the day? 

And who made the night? 
Who made the black? 

And who made the white? 
Abraham Lin'cum made the day, 

Abraham Lin'cum made the night, 
Abraham Lin'cum made the black 

And Abraham Lin'cum made the white. 

Who made the hands? 

And who made the mouth? 
Who made the north? 

And who made the south ? 
Abraham Lin'cum made the hands, 

Abraham Lin'cum made the mouth, 
Abraham Lin'cum made the north 

And Abraham Lin'cum made the south. 
167 



Negro Poems, Melodies 



WHEN THE STEAMBOAT COMES 
ALONG 

Captain blow the whistle — 

Captain blow it long, 
For I want to hear the whistle 

When the steamboat comes along. 

Captain blow the whistle 

Let it sing a song — 
For I \\ant to hear the whistle 

When the steamboat comes along. 

The tide is running seaward — 
And the tide is running strong, 

But I want to hear the whistle 

When the steamboat comes along. 

The driftwood and the sand bar 
They sound the signal gong. 

And you always hear the whistle 
When the steamboat comes along. 

So Captain blow the whistle — 
And Captain don't be long, 

For I want to hear the whistle 

When the steamboat comes along. 



i68 



